Report Recommends Australia Set Targets for Stable Temporary Migrant Population

A new report argues that Australia should set immigration targets to achieve a stable temporary population. This approach aims to address the growth in nonpermanent residents, which has impacted public services and housing. 7% in 2010 to more than 6%.

The report, produced by the director of the Australian National University’s migration hub and an emeritus professor, states that focus on net overseas migration figures has overshadowed discussions on the scale of temporary migration. This emphasis has contributed to concerns about social cohesion, migration volumes, and pressures on infrastructure and housing.

The report highlights how unmanaged growth in temporary migrants has added to these issues.

International Comparisons and Lessons A rebound in overseas migration following the end of pandemic border closures has prompted debates in several advanced economies about population capacity.

6% to 5% of the population. Canada's population is now shrinking for the first time since the 1940s, and evidence indicates these measures have eased housing cost pressures. The report notes an opportunity for Australia to draw from Canada's experience but advises against a similar rapid implementation.

It states that focusing on the stock of temporary migrants, rather than net migration, provides effective control mechanisms directly linked to public concerns. However, the report criticizes aspects of Canada's approach, including the arbitrary nature of the 5% target and the speed of reductions, which have caused economic harm.

Proposed Approach for Australia The report recommends that Australia adopt a fixed number for temporary migrants and adjust permanent residency pathways to manage long-term population growth.

This would tie temporary admissions to the country's capacity for infrastructure development and permanent settlement. Such a system would avoid an expanding population of temporary workers with unintended effects. The authors emphasize that the goal is not to reduce migration overall but to improve governance of temporary migration.

They advocate for a stable temporary population based on Australia's sustainable capacity, rather than politically driven net migration numbers. >"Our argument is not that migration should simply be cut, it is that Australia needs a better way to govern ‘temporariness’.