In the lead-up to the 2022 election, the Australian Labor Party made a significant promise to the electorate: they would lower immigration levels to address mounting socio-economic pressures but less than three years into their term, the reality of their immigration policies has diverged starkly from their pre-election commitments, sparking widespread debate and criticism.
Because before assuming office (2022) Labor assured voters that reducing immigration would be a priority, which was a stance that resonated with many Australians concerned about housing affordability, job availability and infrastructure strain.
Yet, following their election victory, the Labor government enacted a series of measures that have significantly increased immigration levels.
And the Labor government’s October 2022 budget forecasted a net overseas migration of 235,000 for the financial years 2022-2024 but instead, the country recorded 1 million net overseas migrants in just 2022 and 2023, which far exceeded expectations and doubling the projected figures.
Hence, this dramatic increase has resulted in Australia achieving record levels of permanent, temporary and overall net migration.
Because before assuming office (2022) Labor assured voters that reducing immigration would be a priority, which was a stance that resonated with many Australians concerned about housing affordability, job availability and infrastructure strain.
Yet, following their election victory, the Labor government enacted a series of measures that have significantly increased immigration levels.
Immigration: Key Policy Changes
Labor’s new immigration policies include:- Increasing Permanent and Humanitarian Intakes: The permanent migrant intake was boosted by 30,000 and the humanitarian intake saw a rise of 7,000.
- Funding for Visa Processing: An allocation of $42 million was made to hire 500 additional staff at the Department of Home Affairs aiming to clear a backlog of 1 million visas.
- Extended Work Rights for International Students: The cap on working hours for international students was raised from 20 to 24 hours per week and the post-graduation work period was extended.
- More Visas for Low-Skilled Workers: There was an increase in permanent visas for low-skilled workers in sectors like agriculture and aged care.
- Migration Deals with India: Two agreements were signed with India to facilitate easier access for Indian nationals to study and work in Australia.
And the Labor government’s October 2022 budget forecasted a net overseas migration of 235,000 for the financial years 2022-2024 but instead, the country recorded 1 million net overseas migrants in just 2022 and 2023, which far exceeded expectations and doubling the projected figures.
Hence, this dramatic increase has resulted in Australia achieving record levels of permanent, temporary and overall net migration.
