Ever since homo sapiens began to explore, moving around and out of Africa, whether it be as a result of the always changing climate or other unstoppable forces, migration has been a significant part of the human story.
In the modern world, as well as enabling economic growth, immigration allows us to perform our social and humanitarian responsibility, and in both regards Australia has a proud history. Immigration has and continues to serve us well.
A poorly managed immigration system, particularly in our advanced world where millions of people enter Australia in a reasonably short period, has the potential to exacerbate underlying economic and social problems.
Noosa residents know from their own experience the constraints on housing and infrastructure, congestion on roads, and the impact on services, beaches and our natural environment that rising population brings, particularly as it reaches the 60,000 people population cap number that was identified by previous local government leaders in the 1990s.
Noosa is one of the many regions in Australia experiencing a housing crisis. A study by the Noosa Chamber of Commerce and Industry has found that median local house prices are more than $1.27 million, a significant number of residents are priced out of the local real estate market, and others are suffering from rental stress. This has led to some local workers and families who are unable to secure housing to either move out of the area or adjust their housing expectations.
As one of Australia’s premier tourism destinations, the Noosa Shire also receives approximately two million visitors each year, which adds to the congestion on local roads, and demands on infrastructure and services.
As forecast three decades ago, Noosa residents quite rightly have concerns about population growth and the impact this may have on the Shire’s unique amenity, lifestyle and environment.
The same situation is playing out on a larger scale nationally with Australia’s rapid population growth, when Governments have failed to ensure that the housing, hospitals, roads, dams, and other vital infrastructure needed to accommodate that growth is in place.
There was no mention of increasing migration numbers from the Labor Party prior to the 2022 federal election. There was no mention of the “Big Australia” policy until their first Jobs and Skills Summit, from which emerged the recommendation to set migration levels at record levels and see what happens.
Well, we are now in the see what happens phase. The Australian Government’s 2024 Population Statement forecasts Australia’s population growing from 27.2 million people in 2023-24 to 28.4 million people in 2027-28 at a time when we have a national homelessness crisis, a housing and rental affordability crisis, our hospitals are struggling, and young Australians are giving up on the dream of home ownership.
The most recent Census in 2021 found that there were 121,494 people experiencing homelessness on Census night. It is clear the Government has its work cut out for it if that number will be lower in next year’s Census.
Immigration is an issue for which the Federal Government has total responsibility. In the Albanese Labor Government’s first Budget for 2022-23, our estimated net overseas migration figure was forecast at 235,000 people. The actual figure turned out to be 538,341. For 2023-24, the Government’s forecast was the same at 235,000 migrants, but the real figure was 430,496.
Immigration has built Australia over generations. Everyone who calls themself Australian has a history of migration. Whether your ancestors migrated here on foot before the end of the last ice age or you chose Australia to be your home, migration is what has brought us all here and it has made Australia great. We also have a strong and generous humanitarian program, and we need to ensure we have the capacity to play our role to provide protection to people in need.
But migration needs to be carefully managed and done in a sustainable way. It’s a finely tuned system that needs to adjust to many variables, including domestic, international, and economic circumstances, but it must always be managed for the benefit of all Australian citizens.
My office is always here to help in any matter controlled by the Australian Government. If you need assistance please contact me on telephone 4121 2936, email llew.obrien.mp@aph.gov.au, my website llewobrien.com.au or facebook.com/llewobrienlnp
