Already a subscriber?Australia has long prided itself on being one of the most successful multicultural countries in the world. More than 30 per cent of the population was born overseas, and migrants have provided much-needed skills and workers, and boosted both the economy and the government’s tax take.
But a recent influx of migrants after Australia emerged from the pandemic has prompted a more negative debate. The jump in migrant numbers is being blamed for everything from soaring rents to clogged roads and hard-to-find childcare spots. Both major political parties are pledging to reduce immigration, with the Coalition announcing particularly drastic cuts, and international students are the main targets., economics correspondent Michael Read and education editor Julie Hare explain why net migration spiked, how the government and the opposition are planning to rein it in, and what deep cuts would mean for universities, the jobs market and economic growth.
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