Despite significant historical differences on migration-related
issues, the 2019 election has seen the Labor party and Coalition
government promote policies with major similarities. Populist and
unsubstantiated reasoning pervades both major parties'
immigration policies, demonstrating a limited awareness of the fact
that immigration can and does improve the lives of the majority of
Australians, both economically and socially. This update contrasts
and critiques the key immigration policies of Labor and the
Coalition.
Cap on immigration
As part of its National Population Plan, the Coalition has
announced that it will cap permanent migration at 160,000 for the
next four years, down from 190,000. However, only approximately
162,000 permanent immigrants have been admitted in the last year,
and Professor Andrew Markus, research professor in the Faculty of
Arts at Monash University, empahsises that temporary visas are the
greatest contributors to population growth. This
