Australia’s migration reaches lowest level since 2022
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Australia’s net overseas migration has fallen to the lowest number since 2022.
New data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) found the population grew by 1.5 per cent to 27.8 million in the 12 months to December.
Australia’s net overseas migration has fallen to the lowest number since 2022. Nine
The population soared past 28 million this month.
“This was made up by natural increase, which is the number of births minus those who died, and overseas migration,” ABS head of demography Beidar Cho said.
Births and deaths created a natural increase of 111,500 people, while net overseas migration added 301,000 people.
Net overseas migration is the net gain or loss of the population through migration and includes Australian citizens moving abroad or returning home after living abroad.
The latest figure is the lowest since the 348,630 recorded in September 2022.
In comparison, the US recorded 1.3 million people, Canada saw 326,204 people and the UK had 171,000 people last year.
The federal government has been criticised by its political opponents, who claim Australia’s migration is unsustainable and hurting the housing supply crisis.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters earlier this month that he will bring migration down to 225,000 people per year, which he said is the “right number”.
Immigration Minister Tony Burke said the government is prioritising skilled migration.
“As today’s data shows, we are bringing migration down with a sensible, measured approach to provide the skilled workers Australia needs, while addressing exploitation and rorts,” he said in a statement today.
“The numbers of temporary visa holders and international students also continue to fall, as we prioritise the skills that we need to care for our sick and elderly and build homes.”
But the Coalition’s outgoing spokesperson for home affairs, Senator Jonno Duniam, said today that the migration is still too high.
“A NOM figure of 301,000 is still far too high – particularly at a time when Australians are struggling to find a home, rents remain under extreme pressure and public infrastructure and services are badly stretched,” he said in a statement.
“This is not a one-off number. Net overseas migration has now remained above 300,000 for 14 straight quarters – in other words, for three-and-a-half years.”
One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson made migration central to her National Press Club address yesterday, saying immigration has left the country in a “state of crisis”.
“At the centre of this crisis? Is the utterly flawed policy of multiculturalism,” she said.
“We cannot be a multicultural society. We are a multiracial society, but we must be monocultural in Australians must live under one cultural umbrella.”
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