Arabic version: أستراليا تُحث على وضع أهداف للهجرة من أجل الاستقرار

A new report advocates for Australia to set immigration targets aimed at achieving a ‘stable temporary population.’ This recommendation comes as the number of nonpermanent residents has significantly increased, stretching the country’s public services and housing capabilities.

According to The Guardian, the proportion of temporary migrants in Australia has more than doubled from 2.7% in 2010 to more than 6%. The authors of the report, Alan Gamlen and Peter McDonald, argue that the current focus on net overseas migration figures detracts from addressing the scale of temporariness in the population.

Gamlen emphasized that the failure to manage temporary migration effectively has led to concerns regarding social cohesion and increased pressure on infrastructure and housing. He noted that a rebound in overseas migration after the end of pandemic border closures has ignited debates about the capacity of advanced economies to accommodate rapid population increases.

The report draws parallels with Canada’s recent migration policy changes, which included a cap on temporary arrivals to reduce the percentage of temporary migrants in the population. However, Gamlen criticized Canada’s approach, labeling the 5% target as arbitrary and cautioning against rapid cuts that could harm the economy.

Gamlen and McDonald propose that Australia should manage the number of temporary visa holders in relation to its capacity to support permanent settlement. They stress the need for a better governance strategy regarding temporariness, stating that the goal should not be to simply cut migration but to create a stable temporary population that aligns with Australia’s infrastructure capabilities.