Arrivals Decline While Fewer People Pack Their Bags for Travel
Australia sees a drop in arrivals, but fewer people are leaving the country than expected, raising concerns about migration policies
Australia, Migration, COVID-19, Economy, Housing, Education
Canberra: So, it looks like Australia is facing a bit of a twist in its migration story. The government aimed to cut down on the number of people coming in, but things aren’t going as planned.
Net overseas migration jumped to 340,000 for 2024/25. That’s way above the expected 260,000. It seems fewer folks are leaving Australia, which is a surprise.
The government mentioned that while new arrivals are dropping, the number of people heading out is lower than they thought. They’re hoping departures will pick up next year, but it might be slower than they’d like.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers admitted he couldn’t quite figure out why people are sticking around longer. He said, “I don’t have a more granular sense like that.”
Looking ahead, they predict net migration will be around 225,000 for the next couple of years. But the latest stats show a decline from last year’s peak of 536,000 to 446,000.
Interestingly, temporary students still make up the largest group of arrivals, even though the government tried to cap their numbers. That cap didn’t sit well with the higher education sector.
The OECD has warned that if immigration slows down too much, it could hurt Australia’s economy. They said it might affect consumption growth, which is a big deal.
On the political front, the opposition is criticizing Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for not sticking to his promise to halve migration. They argue it’s putting pressure on the housing market.
In response, the Albanese government recently passed new migration laws, giving them more power to deport non-citizens, including many overstayers. It’s a hot topic for sure!