View source for Immigration to Australia

{{Short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]] -->
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}

[[File:Australian Census 2011 demographic map - Australia by SLA - BCP field 1936 Total Total.svg|thumb|right|400px|People born overseas as a percentage of the population in Australia divided geographically by statistical local area, as of the 2011 census]]
[[File:ABS-3401.0-OverseasArrivalsDeparturesAustralia-TotalMovementArrivals CategoryMovement-NumberMovements-PermanentSettlerArrivals-A83808877L.svg|thumb|right|400px|Monthly arrivals of permanent settlers since 1976|alt=Plot showing a staggered rise, and peaks around 1982, 1988, and 2009.]]

'''Immigration to Australia''' is, as in much of the [[Western world]], a relatively recent phenomenon that has become a defining factor in shaping the nation's [[Demographics of Australia|demographics]] and [[cultural identity]]. As of 30 June 2024, the latest data available, approximately 31.5% of Australia's residents were [[Foreign-born population of Australia|born overseas]], amounting to about 8.6 million people out of an estimated total population of 27.2 million.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-30 |title=Australia's population by country of birth, Jun 2024 {{!}} Australian Bureau of Statistics |url=https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/australias-population-country-birth/latest-release |access-date=2025-08-30 |website=www.abs.gov.au |language=en}}</ref> According to the [[Australian Bureau of Statistics]], this represents the highest proportion of foreign-born residents recorded since 1892.<ref>{{Cite web |title=One in three Aussies were born overseas - here's where they're from and where they live - realestate.com.au |url=https://www.realestate.com.au/insights/one-in-three-aussies-were-born-overseas-heres-where-theyre-from-and-where-they-live/ |access-date=2025-08-30 |website=www.realestate.com.au |language=en}}</ref> Today, Australia ranks among the countries with the largest [[List of sovereign states by immigrant and emigrant population|share of foreign-born inhabitants globally]], reflecting both its modern immigration policies and its status as a major destination for migrants within the [[Asia-Pacific]] region.

The [[Australia (continent)|Australian continent]] was first settled when ancestors of [[Indigenous Australians]] arrived via the islands of [[Maritime Southeast Asia]] and [[New Guinea]] over 50,000 years ago.<ref name="SMH_Origins2">{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/news/national/out-of-africa--aboriginal-origins-uncovered/2007/05/08/1178390312301.html|title=Out of Africa – Aboriginal origins uncovered|last=Smith|first=Debra|date=9 May 2007|newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|quote=Aboriginal Australians are descended from the same small group of people who left Africa about 70,000 years ago and colonised the rest of the world, a large genetic study shows. After arriving in Australia and New Guinea about 50,000 years ago, the settlers evolved in relative isolation, developing unique genetic characteristics and technology.|access-date=5 June 2008|archive-date=6 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106051641/http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/out-of-africa--aboriginal-origins-uncovered/2007/05/08/1178390312301.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
	 
European colonisation began in 1788 with the establishment of a [[British Empire|British]] [[penal colony]] in [[New South Wales]]. Starting at independence in 1901, Australia maintained the [[White Australia policy]] for much of the 20th century, which forbade the entrance in Australia of people of non-European ethnic origins. Following [[World War II]], the policy was gradually relaxed, and was abolished entirely in 1973. Since 1945, more than 7 million people have settled in Australia.

Between 1788 and the mid-20th century, the vast majority of settlers and immigrants came from Britain and Ireland (principally [[English Australians|England]], [[Irish Australians|Ireland]] and [[Scottish Australians|Scotland]]), although there was significant immigration from [[Chinese Australians|China]] and [[German Australians|Germany]] during the 19th century. In the decades immediately following World War II, Australia received a [[Post-war immigration to Australia|large wave of immigration]] from across [[European Australians|Europe]], with many more immigrants arriving from [[Southern Europe|Southern]] and [[Eastern Europe]] than in previous decades. Since the end of the [[White Australia policy]] in 1973, Australia has pursued an official policy of [[multiculturalism]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.immi.gov.au/facts/06evolution.htm|title=The Evolution of Australia's Multicultural Policy|access-date=18 September 2007|year=2005|publisher=Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060219130703/http://www.immi.gov.au/facts/06evolution.htm|archive-date=19 February 2006}}</ref> and there has been a large and continuing wave of immigration from across the world, with [[Asian Australians|Asia]] being the largest source of immigrants in the 21st century.<ref name="homeaffairs.gov.au">{{Cite web|url=https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/research-and-stats/files/report-migration-program-2018-19.pdf|title=2018 – 19 Migration Program Report|date=30 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406191145/https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/research-and-stats/files/report-migration-program-2018-19.pdf|archive-date=6 April 2023|url-status=live|website=Department of Home Affairs}}</ref> In 2019–20, immigration to Australia came to a halt during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], which in turn saw a shrinkage of the Australian population for the first time since World War I,<ref>{{cite web|title=Australia's population shrinks for the first time since WWI as COVID turns off immigration tap|work=ABC|date=24 March 2021|accessdate=14 April 2021|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-24/population-declines-as-covid-border-closures-bite/13256938|archive-date=13 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413233816/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-24/population-declines-as-covid-border-closures-bite/13256938|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Australia's population has shrunk. What is the ideal population for this country?|work=ABC|date=25 March 2021|accessdate=14 April 2021|url=https://www.abc.net.au/radio/sydney/programs/afternoons/population/13276994|archive-date=12 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412233446/https://www.abc.net.au/radio/sydney/programs/afternoons/population/13276994|url-status=live}}</ref> though in the following period 2021–22 showed a very strong recovery of migrant arrivals.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-16 |title=Overseas Migration, 2021-22 financial year {{!}} Australian Bureau of Statistics |url=https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/overseas-migration/latest-release |access-date=2022-12-25 |website=www.abs.gov.au |language=en |archive-date=25 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221225071241/https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/overseas-migration/latest-release |url-status=live }}</ref>

Net overseas migration has increased from 30,042 in 1992–93<ref name="abs">Australian Bureau of Statistics, [http://www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/abs@.nsf/0/0BD75000987B71A0CA256F7200832F19?Open International migration] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200413184820/http://www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/abs@.nsf/0/0BD75000987B71A0CA256F7200832F19?Open |date=13 April 2020 }}</ref> to 178,582 persons in 2015–16,<ref name="abs2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/3412.0Main%20Features52015-16?opendocument&tabname=Summary&prodno=3412.0&issue=2015-16&num=&view=|title=Australian Bureau of noms|access-date=21 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180707083017/http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/3412.0Main%20Features52015-16?opendocument&tabname=Summary&prodno=3412.0&issue=2015-16&num=&view=|archive-date=7 July 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> and 536,000 in 2022–23.<ref name="news.com.au-migration">{{cite news |title=Unfair reality facing thousands of young Australians |url=https://www.news.com.au/finance/economy/interest-rates/unfair-reality-facing-thousands-of-young-australians/news-story/87c50e3bf9edefbdccd7b34966bd3dbf |work=News.com.au |date=1 January 2025}}</ref>  The largest components of [[immigration]] are the skilled migration and family re-union programs. A 2014 sociological study concluded that: "Australia and Canada are the most receptive to immigration among western nations."<ref>Markus, Andrew. "[http://jos.sagepub.com/content/50/1/10.full.pdf+html Attitudes to immigration and cultural diversity in Australia.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160623043715/http://jos.sagepub.com/content/50/1/10.full.pdf+html |date=23 June 2016 }}" Journal of Sociology 50.1 (2014): 10-22.</ref> In 2023, [[Boston Consulting Group|BCG]] ranked Australia as the top country destination for individuals seeking to work and live a high-quality life based on global assessments.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-22 |title=Decoding Global Talent 2024: Dream Destinations and Mobility Trends |url=https://www.bcg.com/publications/2024/dream-destinations-and-talent-mobility-trends |website=BCG Global |language=en}}</ref>

Australia is a signatory to the [[Convention relating to the Status of Refugees]] and has resettled many [[Asylum in Australia|asylum seekers]]. In recent years, Australia's policy of [[Immigration detention in Australia|mandatory detention]] of [[unauthorised arrival]]s by boat has attracted controversy.

== Immigration history of Australia ==
{{Main|Immigration history of Australia}}
The first [[Human migration|migration]] of humans to the continent took place around 65,000 years ago<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2017-11-17/when-did-australias-human-history-begin-conversation/9158202 A story of rupture and resilience: When did Australia's human history begin?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200413184828/https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2017-11-17/when-did-australias-human-history-begin-conversation/9158202 |date=13 April 2020 }} ''ABC News'', 17 November 2017, Retrieved 17 November 2017.</ref> via the islands of [[Maritime Southeast Asia]] and [[Papua New Guinea]] as part of the early [[history of human migration]] out of Africa.<ref name="genographic.nationalgeographic.com">{{Cite web|url=https://genographic.nationalgeographic.com/human-journey/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130114080014/https://genographic.nationalgeographic.com/human-journey/|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 January 2013|title=Map of Human Migration}}</ref>

=== Penal transportation ===
{{Main|Convicts in Australia}}
[[File:Black-eyed Sue and Sweet Poll of Plymouth taking leave of their lovers who are going to Botany Bay.jpeg|thumb|right|Women in England mourning their loved ones who are to be transported to the penal colony at [[Botany Bay]], 1792]]
European migration to Australia began with the British [[penal colony|convict settlement]] of [[Sydney Cove]] on 26 January 1788. The [[First Fleet]] comprised 11 ships carrying 775 convicts and 645 officials, members of the crew, marines, and their families and children. The settlers consisted of petty criminals, second-rate soldiers and a crew of sailors. There were few with skills needed to start a self-sufficient settlement, such as farmers and builders, and the colony experienced hunger and hardships. Male settlers far outnumbered female settlers. The [[Second Fleet (Australia)|Second Fleet]] arrived in 1790 bringing more convicts. The conditions of the transportation was described as horrific and worse than slave transports. Of the 1,026 convicts who embarked, 267 (256 men and 11 women) died during the voyage (26%); a further 486 were sick when they arrived of which 124 died soon after. The fleet was more of a drain on the struggling settlement than of any benefit. Conditions on the [[Third Fleet (Australia)|Third Fleet]], which followed on the heels of the Second Fleet in 1791, were a bit better. The fleet comprised 11 ships. Of the more than 2000 convicts brought onto the ships, 173 male convicts and 9 female convicts died during the voyage. Other transport fleets bringing further convicts as well as freemen to the colony would follow. By the end of the [[penal transportation]] in 1868, approximately 165,000 people had entered Australia as convicts.

=== Bounty Immigration ===

The colonies promoted migration by a variety of schemes. The Bounty Immigration Scheme (1835-1841) boosted emigration from the United Kingdom to New South Wales.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.angelfire.com/al/aslc/immigration.html|title=Australia's Early Immigration Schemes|website=[[Angelfire]]|access-date=23 September 2018|archive-date=2 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200402195742/http://www.angelfire.com/al/aslc/immigration.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[South Australia Company]] was established to encourage settlement in South Australia by labourers and skilled migrants.

=== Gold rush and population growth ===
{{Main|Australian gold rush}}
[[File:StateLibQld 1 110096 Drawing of migrants disembarking from a ship, ca. 1885.jpg|thumb|Migrants disembarking from a ship, {{Circa|1885}}]]
[[File:Southern Cross - call to British.jpg|thumb|right|250px|alt=Immigration poster|[[Australian Government]] poster issued by the Overseas Settlement Office to attract immigrants (1928).]]

The [[Australian gold rushes|Gold Rush era]], beginning in 1851, led to an enormous expansion in population, including large numbers of British and Irish settlers, followed by smaller numbers of Germans, other Europeans, and [[Overseas Chinese|Chinese]]. This latter group was subject to increasing restrictions and discrimination, making it impossible for many to remain in the country. With the federation of the Australian colonies into a single nation, one of the first acts of the new Commonwealth Government was the [[Immigration Restriction Act 1901]], otherwise known as the [[White Australia policy]], which was a strengthening and unification of disparate colonial policies designed to restrict non-White settlement. Because of opposition from the British government, an explicit racial policy was avoided in the legislation, with the control mechanism being a dictation test in a European language selected by the immigration officer. This was selected to be one the immigrant did not know; the last time an immigrant passed a test was in 1909. Perhaps the most celebrated case was [[Egon Erwin Kisch]], a left-wing Czechoslovak journalist who could speak five languages, who was failed in a test in Scottish Gaelic and deported as illiterate.

The government also found that if it wanted immigrants, it had to subsidise migration. The great distance from Europe made Australia a more expensive and less attractive destination than Canada and the United States. The number of immigrants needed during different stages of the economic cycle could be controlled by varying the subsidy. Before [[Federation of Australia|Federation in 1901]], assisted migrants received passage assistance from colonial government funds. The British government paid for the passage of convicts, paupers, the military, and civil servants. Few immigrants received colonial government assistance before 1831.<ref name="Price">{{cite book |last=Price |first=Charles |title=Australians: Historical Statistics |publisher=Fairfax, Syme & Weldon Associates |year=1987 |isbn=0-949288-29-2 |editor=Wray Vamplew |location=Broadway, New South Wales, Australia |pages=2–22 |chapter=Chapter 1: Immigration and Ethnic Origin}}</ref> However, young women were receiving assisted passages from state governments to migrate to Australia in the early years of Federation.<ref>{{Cite Q|Q118696098}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!Period!!Annual average assisted immigrants<ref name = Price/>
|-
| 1831–1860 || 18,268
|-
| 1861–1900 || 10,087
|-
| 1901–1940 || 10,662
|-
| 1941–1980 || 52,960
|}

With the onset of the [[Great Depression]], the Governor-General proclaimed the cessation of immigration until further notice. The next group to arrive were 5,000 Jewish refugee families from Germany in 1938. Approved groups such as these were assured of entry by being issued a Certificate of Exemption from the Dictation Test.

=== Post-war immigration to Australia ===
{{Main|Post-war immigration to Australia|New Australians}}
[[File:Dutch Migrant 1954 MariaScholte=50000thToAustraliaPostWW2.jpg|thumb|In 1954 the 50,000th [[Dutch Australian|Dutch migrant]] arrived in Australia.]]

After [[World War II]], Australia launched a massive [[Post war immigration to Australia|immigration program]], believing that having narrowly avoided a Japanese invasion, Australia must "populate or perish". Hundreds of thousands of displaced Europeans migrated to Australia and over 1,000,000 British subjects immigrated under the [[Assisted Passage Migration Scheme]], colloquially becoming known as [[Ten Pound Poms]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/tv/guide/netw/200711/programs/ZY8804A001D1112007T203000.htm|title=Ten Pound Poms|date=1 November 2007|work=[[ABC Television (Australia)]]|access-date=14 June 2009|archive-date=2 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200402195744/http://www.abc.net.au/tv/guide/netw/200711/programs/ZY8804A001D1112007T203000.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>  The scheme initially targeted citizens of all Commonwealth countries; after the war it gradually extended to other countries such as the Netherlands and Italy. The qualifications were straightforward: migrants needed to be in sound health and under the age of 45 years. There were initially no skill restrictions, although under the [[White Australia Policy]], people from mixed-race backgrounds found it very difficult to take advantage of the scheme.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://museumvictoria.com.au/immigrationmuseum/discoverycentre/your-questions/ten-pound-poms/|title=Ten Pound Poms|date=10 May 2009|work=[[Museum Victoria]]|access-date=14 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100117183339/http://museumvictoria.com.au/immigrationmuseum/discoverycentre/your-questions/ten-pound-poms/|archive-date=17 January 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 1973, [[Multiculturalism in Australia|multiculturalism]] largely displaced cultural selectivity in [[immigration policy]].

Net overseas migration reached a record level of 536,000 in 2022–23,<ref name="news.com.au-migration"/> up from 170,900 in 2021–22.<ref>{{cite news |title=Overseas Migration |url=https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/overseas-migration/2021-22-financial-year |work=[[Australian Bureau of Statistics]] |date=16 December 2022}}</ref> Overall migration was 739,000 in 2022-23.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chung |first1=Frank |title=Australia adds 446,000 net overseas migrants in 2023–24 |url=https://www.news.com.au/finance/economy/australian-economy/australia-adds-446000-net-overseas-migrants-in-202324/news-story/78467999ae09bd21b58ab1721ccfd7e8 |work=News.com.au |date=13 December 2024}}</ref> Net permanent and long-term arrivals in the 12 months to May 2024 were a record 482,450.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chung |first1=Frank |title='A bit artificial': Shock unemployment figure exposes cracks in Australia's migration-fuelled NDIS jobs boom |url=https://www.news.com.au/finance/economy/australian-economy/a-bit-artificial-shock-unemployment-figure-exposes-cracks-in-australias-migrationfuelled-ndis-jobs-boom/news-story/1a26c22c41e5c38da1faf053baee9871 |work=News.com.au |date=July 18, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Wild |first1=Daniel |title=Living standards and housing crisis worsen after another record month of unplanned migration |url=https://ipa.org.au/publications-ipa/media-releases/living-standards-and-housing-crisis-worsen-after-another-record-month-of-unplanned-migration |work=[[Institute of Public Affairs]] |date=15 July 2025}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!Period!!Migration programme<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.border.gov.au/about/corporate/information/fact-sheets/02key |title=Fact sheet - Key facts about immigration |access-date=18 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912192513/http://www.border.gov.au/about/corporate/information/fact-sheets/02key |archive-date=12 September 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/BN/1011/AustMigration|title=Australia's Migration Program|publisher=Parliament of Australia|website=www.aph.gov.au|access-date=13 June 2018|archive-date=13 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613134026/https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/BN/1011/AustMigration|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| 1998–99 || 68 000
|-
| 1999–00 || 70 000 {{increase}} 
|-
| 2000–01 || 76 000 {{increase}}
|-
| 2001–02 || 85 000 {{increase}}
|-
| 2002–03 || 108,070 {{increase}}
|-
| 2003–2004 || 114,360 {{increase}}
|-
| 2004–2005 || 120,060 {{increase}}
|-
| 2005 || 142,933 {{increase}}
|-
| 2006 || 148,200 {{increase}}
|-
| 2007 || 158,630 {{increase}}
|-
| 2008 || 171,318 {{increase}}
|-
| 2011 || 185,000 {{increase}}
|-
| 2012 || 190,000 {{increase}}
|-
| 2013 || 190,000<ref>{{Cite report |title=2013–14 Migration Programme Report |date=July 2014 |url=https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/research-and-stats/files/report-migration-programme-2013-14.pdf |access-date=2025-11-09 |url-status=live |publisher=[[Department of Home Affairs (Australia)]] |location=Canberra, Australia |language=English |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250906225024/https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/research-and-stats/files/report-migration-programme-2013-14.pdf |archive-date=2025-09-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/research-and-statistics/statistics/visa-statistics/live/migration-program | title=Department of Home Affairs Website }}</ref>
|-
| 2015-2016 || 190,000<ref>https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/research-and-stats/files/2015-16-migration-programme-report.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=August 2024}}</ref>
|-
| 2016-2017 || 190,000<ref>https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/research-and-stats/files/report-on-migration-program-2016-17.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=August 2024}}</ref>
|-
| 2017-2018 || 190,000<ref>https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/research-and-stats/files/report-migration-program-2017-18.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=August 2024}}</ref>
|-
| 2018-2019 || 190,000<ref>https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/research-and-stats/files/report-migration-program-2018-19.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=August 2024}}</ref>
|-
| 2023-2024 || 190,000<ref>{{Cite web |title=Migration Program Planning Levels |url=https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/what-we-do/migration-program-planning-levels |date= |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251004211319/https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/what-we-do/migration-program-planning-levels |archive-date=2025-10-04 |access-date=2025-11-09 |website=Immigration and Citizenship |publisher=[[Department of Home Affairs (Australia)]] |language=English |publication-place=Canberra, Australia}}</ref>
|}

=== Overview ===
{{Main|Foreign-born population of Australia}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+Foreign-born Australian residents by country of birth<ref>{{Cite web|last=Commonwealth Parliament|first=Canberra|title=Population and migration statistics in Australia|url=https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp1819/Quick_Guides/PopulationStatistics|access-date=2020-07-22|website=www.aph.gov.au|language=en-AU|archive-date=3 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803154740/https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp1819/Quick_Guides/PopulationStatistics/|url-status=live}}</ref>
!'''#'''
! colspan="2" |1901
! colspan="2" |1954
! colspan="2" |2016
|-
|1.
|{{flagicon|UK}} [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|United Kingdom]]
|495 504
|{{flagicon|UK}} [[United Kingdom]]
|616 532
|{{flagicon|UK}} [[United Kingdom]]
|1 087 756
|-
|2.
|{{flagicon|UK}} [[History of Ireland (1801–1923)|Ireland]]
|184 085
|{{flagicon|Italy}} [[Italy]]
|119 897
|{{flagicon|New Zealand}} [[New Zealand]]
|518 462
|-
|3.
|{{flagicon|German Empire}} [[German Empire]]
|38 352
|{{flagicon|Germany}} [[West Germany|Germany]]
|65 422
|{{flagicon|China}} [[China]]
|509 558
|-
|4.
|{{flagicon|Qing Empire}} [[Qing Empire|China]]
|29 907
|{{flagicon|Poland}} [[Polish People's Republic|Poland]]
|56 594
|{{flagicon|India}} [[India]]
|455 385
|-
|5.
|{{flagicon|UK}} [[Colony of New Zealand|New Zealand]] 
|25 788
|{{flagicon|Netherlands}} [[Netherlands]]
|52 035
|{{flagicon|Philippines}} [[Philippines]]
|232 391
|-
|6.
|{{flagicon|Sweden|1844}}{{flagicon|Norway|1901}} [[Sweden-Norway]]
|9 863
|{{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]
|47 673
|{{flagicon|Vietnam}} [[Vietnam]]
|219 351
|-
|7.
|{{flagicon|UK}} [[South Sea Islanders|South Sea Islands]]
|9 128
|{{flagicon|New Zealand}} [[New Zealand]]
|43 350
|{{flagicon|Italy}} [[Italy]]
|174 042
|-
|8.
|{{flagicon|British Raj}} [[British Raj]]
|7 637
|{{flagicon|Greece|old}} [[Kingdom of Greece|Greece]]
|25 862
|{{flagicon|South Africa}} [[South Africa]]
|162 450
|-
|9.
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[United States]]
|7 448
|{{flagicon|Yugoslavia}} [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]]
|22 856
|{{flagicon|Malaysia}} [[Malaysia]]
|138 363
|-
|10.
|{{flagicon|Denmark}} [[Denmark]]
|6 281
|{{flagicon|Malta|colonial}} [[Crown Colony of Malta|Malta]]
|19 988
|{{flagicon|Sri Lanka}} [[Sri Lanka]]
|109 850
|-
| - 
|Other
|47 463
|Other
|215 589
|Other
|2 542 443
|}

==Current immigration programs==

=== Migration program ===
{{see also|Australian permanent resident}}
[[File:"Life From A Suitcase" sculpture.jpg|thumb|"Life From A Suitcase" sculpture installed at [[Pyrmont, New South Wales|Pyrmont]] dedicated to immigrants in Australia]]

There are a number of different types of Australian immigration, classed under different categories of visa:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/trav/visa-1/Visa-listing|title=Visa listing|author=Australian Government. Department of Home Affairs|access-date=23 January 2018|archive-date=23 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180123190415/https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/trav/visa-1/Visa-listing|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* '''Skilled Occupation visas''' - Australian working visas are most commonly granted to highly skilled workers. Candidates are assessed against a points-based system, with points allocated for certain standards of education. These visas are often sponsored by individual States, which recruit workers according to specific needs. Visas may also be granted to applicants sponsored by an Australian business. The most popular form of sponsored working visa was the [[457 visa]] set in place in 1996 which has now been abolished by the Turnbull government.
* '''Student visas''' - The Australian Government actively encourages foreign students to study in Australia. There are a number of categories of a student visa, most of which require a confirmed offer from an educational institution.
* '''Family visas''' - Visas are often granted on the basis of family ties in Australia. There are a number of different types of Australian family visas, including Contributory Parent visas, Child Visa and Partner visas.
* '''Working holiday visa''' - This visa is a residence permit allowing travelers to undertake employment (and sometimes study) in the country issuing the visa to supplement education.
* '''Investor visas''' - Foreign investors could invest the business or fund in Australia to acquire the Permanent Residential of Australia, after 4 years (including the year which acquire the visa), they need to take the exam and make a declaration in order to be a citizen of Australia.<ref>{{cite web 
| url = http://www.visabureau.com/australia/default.aspx 
| title = Australia visas 
| date = 22 December 2011 
| access-date = 22 December 2011 
| author = Australian Visa Bureau 
| archive-date = 1 January 2012 
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120101134140/http://www.visabureau.com/australia/default.aspx 
| url-status = live 
}}</ref>

Employment and family visas can often lead to Australian citizenship;{{citation needed|date=May 2025}} however, this requires the applicant to have lived in Australia for at least four years with at least one year as a [[Australian permanent resident|permanent resident]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Kolli |first=Srashta |date=10 January 2025 |orig-date=14 September 2021<!-- from HTML --> |title=How to Meet the Australian Citizenship Requirements |url=https://legalvision.com.au/australian-citizenship-requirements/ |website=LegalVision |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250503101149/https://legalvision.com.au/australian-citizenship-requirements/ |archive-date=3 May 2025 |access-date=3 May 2025}}</ref>

Claims have been made that Australia's migration program is in conflict with anti age-discrimination legislation and there have been calls to remove or amend the age limit of 50 for general skilled migrants.<ref>{{cite news |title=How old is too old to become a migrant? |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/how-old-is-too-old-to-become-a-migrant |access-date=27 April 2020 |agency=SBS News |date=26 August 2013 |archive-date=9 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309023447/https://www.sbs.com.au/news/how-old-is-too-old-to-become-a-migrant |url-status=live }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+New permanent migrants to Australia by region (2016–17)<ref>{{Cite web|last=Liddy|first=Matt|date=2018-08-20|title=Chart of the day: Where do migrants to Australia come from?|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-20/where-do-migrants-to-australia-come-from-chart/10133560|access-date=2020-07-22|website=ABC News|language=en-AU|archive-date=11 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200411035512/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-20/where-do-migrants-to-australia-come-from-chart/10133560|url-status=live}}</ref>
!Region
!Number of migrants
|-
|Southern and Central Asia
|58,232
|-
|North-East Asia
|37,235
|-
|South-East Asia
|31,488
|-
|North Africa and the Middle East
|28,525
|-
|North-West Europe
|25,174
|-
|Oceania and Antarctica
|16,445
|-
|Sub-Saharan Africa
|11,369
|-
|Americas
|9,687
|-
|Southern and Eastern Europe
|7,306
|-
|Supplementary and Not Stated
|492
|}

===Humanitarian program===
{{Main|Asylum in Australia}}
Australia grants two types of visa under its humanitarian program:<ref>{{Cite web|url= http://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Refu/Offs|title= Offshore - Resettlement|website= www.border.gov.au|access-date= 2017-01-02|archive-date= 21 January 2017|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170121133852/http://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Refu/Offs|url-status= live}}</ref>

* Refugee-category visas for refugees under the [[Convention relating to the Status of Refugees]]
* Special Humanitarian Programme (SHP) visas for persons who are subject to substantial discrimination amounting to gross violation of their human rights in their home country

The cap for visas granted under the humanitarian program was 13,750 for 2015–16,<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Refu/Offs/The-Special-Humanitarian-Programme-(SHP)|title= The Special Humanitarian Programme (SHP)|website= www.border.gov.au|access-date= 2017-01-02|archive-date= 3 January 2017|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170103002531/https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Refu/Offs/The-Special-Humanitarian-Programme-(SHP)|url-status= live}}</ref> plus an additional 12,000 visas available for refugees from the [[List of modern conflicts in the Middle East|conflicts in Syria and Iraq]].<ref>{{Cite web
|url= https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Refu/response-syrian-humanitarian-crisis
|title= Australia's response to the Syrian and Iraqi humanitarian crisis
|website= www.border.gov.au
|access-date= 2017-01-02
|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170321233214/https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Refu/response-syrian-humanitarian-crisis
|archive-date= 21 March 2017
|url-status= dead
}}</ref>

===Migration and settlement services===

The Australian Government and the community{{which|date=January 2019}} provide a number of migration-assistance and settlement-support services: 
* The [[Adult Migrant English Program]], available to eligible migrants from the humanitarian, family and skilled-visa streams, provides free English-language courses for those who do not have functional English. Up to 510 hours of English language courses are provided during the first five years of settlement in Australia.
* The Department of Home Affairs operates a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week telephone-based interpreting service called the Translating and Interpreting Service National, which facilitates contact between non-English speakers and interpreters, enabling access to government and community services.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.directory.gov.au/portfolios/home-affairs/department-home-affairs|title=Department of Home Affairs|date=25 May 2017|website=www.directory.gov.au|access-date=27 June 2018|archive-date=27 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627183123/https://www.directory.gov.au/portfolios/home-affairs/department-home-affairs|url-status=live}}</ref>
* The Settlement Grants Program provides funding to assist humanitarian entrants and migrants settle in Australia and to participate equitably in Australian society as soon as possible after arrival. The program is targeted to deliver settlement services to humanitarian entrants, family migrants with low levels of English proficiency and dependants of skilled migrants in rural and regional areas with low English-proficiency.
* The Australian Cultural Orientation program provides practical advice and the opportunity to ask questions about travel to and life in Australia to refugee and humanitarian visa holders who are preparing to settle in Australia. The program is delivered overseas over five days before the visa holder begins his or her journey.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/lega/lega/form/immi-faqs/what-is-the-australian-cultural-orientation-program |title=What is the Australian Cultural Orientation program? |access-date=1 April 2018 |archive-date=1 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180401144744/https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/lega/lega/form/immi-faqs/what-is-the-australian-cultural-orientation-program |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Refugee and humanitarian visa holders are also eligible to receive on-arrival settlement support through the Humanitarian Settlement Services program, which provides intensive settlement-support and equips individuals with the skills and knowledge to independently access services beyond the initial settlement period.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.dss.gov.au/settlement-and-multicultural-affairs/programs-policy/settlement-services/humanitarian-settlement-program| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180323030656/https://www.dss.gov.au/settlement-and-multicultural-affairs/programs-policy/settlement-services/humanitarian-settlement-program| archive-date = 2018-03-23| title = Humanitarian Settlement Program {{!}} Department of Social Services, Australian Government}}</ref>
* The Immigration Advice and Application Assistance Scheme provides professional assistance, free of charge, to disadvantaged visa-applicants, to help with the completion and submission of visa applications, liaison with the department,{{which|date=January 2019}} and advice on complex immigration matters. It also provides migration advice to prospective visa-applicants and sponsors.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/about/corporate/information/fact-sheets/63advice| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180211013740/http://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/about/corporate/information/fact-sheets/63advice| archive-date = 2018-02-11| title = Fact sheet - Immigration Advice and Application Assistance Scheme (IAAAS)}}</ref>
* In response to the needs of asylum seekers, the Asylum Seeker Assistance Scheme was established{{by whom|date=January 2019}} in 1992 to address Australia's obligations under the [[Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees|Convention relating to the Status of Refugees]]. The Australian Red Cross administers the scheme under contract to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship. It provides financial assistance to asylum seekers in the community who satisfy specific eligibility criteria, and also facilitates access to casework assistance and to other support services for asylum seekers through the Australian Red Cross.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.immi.gov.au/media/fact-sheets/66hss.htm |title=Australian Immigration Fact Sheet 66. Humanitarian Settlement Services<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=23 October 2012 |archive-date=3 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103235036/http://www.immi.gov.au/media/fact-sheets/66hss.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
* A variety of community-based services cater to the needs of newly-arrived migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. Some of these services, such as Migrant Resource Centres, receive funding from the Commonwealth Government.

== Country of birth of Australian residents ==
{{Main|Foreign-born population of Australia}}
[[File:Chinese New Year celebration at Box Hill, Melbourne.jpg|thumb|[[Chinese New Year]] celebrations at [[Box Hill, Victoria]], home to one of the largest [[Chinese Australians|Chinese Australian]] communities in the country.]]
[[File:Palestine Rally End The Siege, Stop the War on Gaza (53263732742).jpg|thumb|A majority of [[Islam in Australia|Muslims in Australia]] are of immigrant backgrounds consisting a diverse range of ethnic groups.]]
{{As of | 2019}}, 30% of the Australian resident population, or 7,529,570 people, had been born overseas.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url= https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/subscriber.nsf/log?openagent&34120do005_201819.xls&3412.0&Data%20Cubes&B95CDCBDF3B53509CA25855700002DC2&0&2018-19&28.04.2020&Latest|title= Table 5.1 Estimated resident population, by country of birth(a), Australia, as at 30 June, 1996 to 2019(b)(c)|publisher= Australian Bureau of Statistics|access-date= 4 May 2020|archive-date= 2 July 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210702055137/https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/migration-australia/latest-release|url-status= live}}</ref>

The following table shows Australia's population by country of birth as estimated by the [[Australian Bureau of Statistics]] in 2024. It shows only countries or regions or birth with a population of over 100,000 residing in Australia.

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:right"
|-
! scope="col" colspan="2" | Source: [[Australian Bureau of Statistics]] (2024)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/migration-australia/2019-20/34120DO005_201920.xls|title=Table 5.1 Estimated resident population, by country of birth(a), Australia, as at 30 June, 1996 to 2024(b)(c)|publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics|access-date=30 April 2025}}</ref>
|-
! scope="col" | Place of birth
! scope="col" | Estimated resident population{{efn-ua|Only countries with 100,000 or more are listed here.}}
|-
| scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| ''Total [[Australia|Australian-born]]''
| ''18,617,690''
|-
| scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| ''Total foreign-born''
| ''8,576,680''
|-
| scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{flagicon|England}} [[English Australians|England]]{{efn-ua|name=uk|The Australian Bureau of Statistics source lists England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland separately although they are all part of the [[United Kingdom]]. These should not be combined as they are not combined in the source.}}
| 1,000,000
|-
| scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{flagicon|India}} [[Indian Australians|India]]
| 916,330
|-
| scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{flagicon|China}} [[Chinese Australians|China]]{{efn-ua|name=cn|In accordance with the Australian Bureau of Statistics source, [[Mainland China]], [[Taiwan]] and the Special Administrative Regions of [[Hong Kong]] and [[Macau]] are listed separately.}}
| 700,120
|-
| scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{flagicon|New Zealand}} [[New Zealand Australians|New Zealand]]
| 617,960
|-
| scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{flagicon|Philippines}} [[Filipino Australians|Philippines]]
| 394,380
|-
| scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{flagicon|Vietnam}} [[Vietnamese Australians|Vietnam]]
| 318,760
|-
| scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{flagicon|South Africa}} [[South African Australians|South Africa]]
| 224,160
|-
| scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{flagicon|Nepal}} [[Nepalese Australians|Nepal]]
| 197,800
|-
| scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{flagicon|Malaysia}} [[Malaysian Australians|Malaysia]]
| 183,490
|-
| scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{flagicon|Sri Lanka}} [[Sri Lankan Australians|Sri Lanka]]
| 172,800
|-
| scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Italian Australians|Italy]]
| 156,070
|-
| scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{flagicon|Pakistan}} [[Pakistani Australians|Pakistan]]
| 134,720
|-
| scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Scottish Australians|Scotland]]
| 124,880
|-
| scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{flagicon|Hong Kong}} [[Hong Kong Australians|Hong Kong]]{{efn-ua|name=cn}}
| 124,550
|-
| scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{flagicon|Indonesia}} [[Indonesian Australians|Indonesia]]
| 120,160
|-
| scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{flagicon|South Korea}} [[Korean Australians|South Korea]]
| 119,190
|-
| scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{flagicon|United States}} [[American Australians|United States]]
| 118,000
|-
| scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{flagicon|Thailand}} [[Thai Australians|Thailand]]
| 114,280
|-
| scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{flagicon|Iraq}} [[Iraqi Australians|Iraq]]
| 109,600
|-
| scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Irish Australians|Ireland]]
| 103,080
|-
| scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{flagicon|Germany}} [[German Australians|Germany]]
| 102,960
|}
{{notelist-ua}}

The separate Australian States show some differences in settlement patterns, as demonstrated in the statistics compiled during the [[2006 Census in Australia|2006 Census]]:<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/ProductSelect?newproducttype=Census+Tables&btnSelectProduct=Select+Location+or+Topic+%3E&collection=Census&period=2006&areacode=&geography=&method=&productlabel=&producttype=&topic=&navmapdisplayed=true&javascript=true&breadcrumb=P&topholder=0&leftholder=0&currentaction=201&action=601&textversion=false |title= 2006 Census Data : View by Location Or Topic |publisher= Censusdata.abs.gov.au |access-date= 14 July 2011 |archive-date= 24 March 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120324233830/http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/ProductSelect?newproducttype=Census+Tables&btnSelectProduct=Select+Location+or+Topic+%3E&collection=Census&period=2006&areacode=&geography=&method=&productlabel=&producttype=&topic=&navmapdisplayed=true&javascript=true&breadcrumb=P&topholder=0&leftholder=0&currentaction=201&action=601&textversion=false |url-status= dead }}</ref>
* [[New South Wales]] had the largest population, and the largest foreign-born population, in Australia (1,544,023). Certain nationalities concentrated notably in this state: 74.5% of [[Lebanese Australian|Lebanese-born]], 63.1% of [[Iraqi Australian|Iraqi-born]], 63.0% of [[South Korean Australian|South Korean-born]], 59.4% of [[Fijian Australian|Fijian-born]], and 59.4% of [[Chinese Australian|Chinese-born]] Australian residents lived in New South Wales.
* [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], the second-most populous state, also had the second-largest number of overseas-born persons (1,161,984). 50.6% of [[Sri Lankan Australian|Sri Lankan-born]], 50.1% of [[Turkish Australian|Turkish-born]], 49.4% of [[Greek Australian|Greek-born]] and 41.6% of [[Italian Australian|Italian-born]] Australian residents lived in Victoria.
* [[Western Australia]], with 528,827 overseas-born residents, had the highest proportion of foreign-born population. The state attracted 29.6% of all [[Singaporean Australian|Singaporean-born]] Australian residents, and narrowly trailed [[New South Wales]] in having the largest population of [[British Australian|British-born]] Australian residents.
* [[Queensland]] had 695,525 overseas-born residents, and attracted the greatest proportion of persons born in [[Papua New Guinea]] (52.4%) and in [[New Zealand Australians|New Zealand]] (38.2%).

==Impacts and concerns==
{{See also|Criticism of multiculturalism|Multiculturalism in Australia}}
There are a range of views in the Australian community on the composition and level of immigration, and on the possible effects of varying the level of immigration and [[population growth]].

In 2002, a [[CSIRO]] population study commissioned by the former [[Department of Immigration and Citizenship|Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs]], outlined six potential dilemmas associated with immigration-driven population growth. These included: the absolute numbers of aged residents continuing to rise despite high immigration off-setting ageing and declining birth-rates in a proportional sense; a worsening of Australia's [[balance of trade|trade balance]] due to more imports and higher consumption of domestic production; increased [[Greenhouse gas emissions by Australia|greenhouse gas emissions]]; overuse of agricultural soils; marine fisheries and domestic supplies of oil and gas; and a decline in urban air quality, river quality and [[biodiversity]].<ref name="csiro">Foran, B., and F. Poldy, (2002), [http://www.cse.csiro.au/publications/2002/fulldilemmasreport02-01.pdf Future Dilemmas: Options to 2050 for Australia's population, Technology, Resources and Environment] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101105070515/http://www.cse.csiro.au/publications/2002/fulldilemmasreport02-01.pdf |date=5 November 2010 }}, CSIRO Resource Futures, Canberra.</ref>

===Environment===
[[File:Melbourne at night from the International Space Station.jpg|thumb|[[Melbourne]] at night from the [[International Space Station]], showing its [[urban sprawl]]]]
Some [[environmental movement]]s believe that as the driest inhabited continent, Australia cannot continue to sustain its current rate of population growth without becoming [[Human overpopulation|overpopulated]]. The [[Sustainable Population Australia]] (SPA) argues that [[climate change]] will lead to a deterioration of natural ecosystems through increased temperatures, extreme weather events and less rainfall in the southern part of the continent, thus reducing its capacity to sustain a large population even further.<ref>{{cite web|title=Baby Bonus Bad for Environment |url=http://www.population.org.au/media/mediarels/mr20061023.pdf |website=population.org.au |publisher=Sustainable Population Australia |access-date=20 May 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080627115015/http://www.population.org.au/media/mediarels/mr20061023.pdf |archive-date=27 June 2008 }}</ref>  The [[The Australia Institute|Australia Institute]] has concluded that Australia's [[population growth]] has been one of the main factors driving growth in domestic greenhouse gas emissions.<ref name=":1" /> It concluded that the average emissions per capita in the countries that immigrants come from is only 42 percent of average emissions in Australia, finding that as immigrants alter their lifestyle to that of Australians, they increase global greenhouse gas emissions.<ref name=":1">{{cite web |url=http://www.tai.org.au/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=36&func=fileinfo&id=47 |title=Population Growth and Greenhouse Gas Emissions |publisher=Tai.org.au |date=10 July 2011 |access-date=14 July 2011 |archive-date=8 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808233615/https://www.tai.org.au/index.php?Itemid=36&func=fileinfo&id=47&option=com_remository |url-status=live }}</ref> The Institute calculated that each additional 70,000 immigrants will lead to additional emissions of 20 million tonnes of greenhouse gases by the end of the Kyoto target period (2012) and 30 million tonnes by 2020.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tai.org.au/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=36&func=fileinfo&id=876 |title=High Population Policy Will Double Greenhouse Gas Growth |publisher=Tai.org.au |date=10 July 2011 |access-date=14 July 2011 |archive-date=8 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808164736/https://www.tai.org.au/index.php?Itemid=36&func=fileinfo&id=876&option=com_remository |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Housing and infrastructure===
A number of economists, such as [[Macquarie Bank]] analyst Rory Robertson, assert that high immigration and the propensity of new arrivals to cluster in the capital cities is exacerbating the nation's [[affordable housing|housing affordability]] problem.<ref name="lo">Klan, A. (17 March 2007) [http://theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21376192-25658,00.html Locked out] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081022125344/http://theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21376192-25658,00.html |date=22 October 2008 }}</ref> According to Robertson, Federal Government policies that fuel demand for housing, such as the currently high levels of immigration, as well as capital gains tax discounts and subsidies to boost fertility, have had a greater impact on housing affordability than land release on urban fringes.<ref name="wade">Wade, M. (9 September 2006) [https://www.smh.com.au/news/national/pm-wrong-on-house-prices/2006/09/08/1157222334155.html PM told he's wrong on house prices] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019215927/http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/pm-wrong-on-house-prices/2006/09/08/1157222334155.html |date=19 October 2017 }}</ref>

The [[Productivity Commission]] in its 2004 Inquiry Report No. 28, ''First Home Ownership'', concluded: "Growth in immigration since the mid-1990s has been an important contributor to underlying demand, particularly in Sydney and Melbourne."<ref name="Microsoft Word - prelims.doc">{{Cite report |title=First Home Ownership |date=2024-03-31 |url=http://www.pc.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/56302/housing.pdf |issue=28 |url-status=dead |publisher=[[Productivity Commission|Productivity Commission (Australia)]] |location=Canberra, Australia |language=English |isbn=174037 1437 |issn=1447-1329 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110603013605/http://www.pc.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/56302/housing.pdf |archive-date=2011-06-03}}</ref> The [[Reserve Bank of Australia]] in its submission to the same Productivity Commission report stated that "rapid growth in overseas visitors such as students may have boosted demand for rental housing".<ref name="Microsoft Word - prelims.doc" /> However, the Commission found that "the ABS resident population estimates have limitations when used for assessing housing demand. Given the significant influx of foreigners coming to work or study in Australia in recent years, it seems highly likely that short-stay visitor movements may have added to the demand for housing. However, the Commissions are unaware of any research that quantifies the effects."<ref name="Microsoft Word - prelims.doc" />

Some individuals and interest groups have also argued that immigration causes overburdened infrastructure.<ref name="er3">Claus, E (2005) [http://www.pc.gov.au/study/migrationandpopulation/subs/sub012.rtf Submission to the Productivity Commission on Population and Migration] (submission 12 to the Productivity Commission's position paper on Economic Impacts of Migration and Population Growth). {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927003342/http://www.pc.gov.au/study/migrationandpopulation/subs/sub012.rtf|date=27 September 2007}}</ref><ref name="er4">Nilsson (2005)  [http://www.pc.gov.au/study/migrationandpopulation/subs/sub009.rtf Negative Economic Impacts of Immigration and Population Growth] (submission 9 to the Productivity Commission's position paper on Economic Impacts of Migration and Population Growth). {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927003114/http://www.pc.gov.au/study/migrationandpopulation/subs/sub009.rtf|date=27 September 2007}}</ref>

In 2024, Australia faced a [[Australian property market|housing crisis]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Record immigration is colliding with housing crises across the world |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nri/migrate/record-immigration-is-colliding-with-housing-crises-across-the-world/articleshow/109908660.cms?from=mdr |work=The Economic Times |date=7 May 2024}}</ref> The housing crisis could possibly be linked to Australia's level of migration <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/article/2024/may/30/migration-has-been-blamed-for-the-housing-crisis-but-its-not-that-simple | title=Migration has been blamed for the housing crisis, but it's not that simple | work=The Guardian | date=29 May 2024 | last1=Evershed | first1=Nick | last2=Nicholas | first2=Josh }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Ben Fordham unleashes on Anthony Albanese for torching housing targets with excessive immigration intake |url=https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/politics/ben-fordham-unleashes-on-anthony-albanese-for-torching-housing-targets-with-excessive-immigration-intake/news-story/cb65cbecba266de45e9417ca49592ddd |work=Sky News |date=12 June 2025}}</ref> According to some critics, the housing crisis in Australia was exacerbated by the immigration policies of the [[Albanese government]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Australia's Albanese faces immigration heat as house prices soar |url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Australia-s-Albanese-faces-immigration-heat-as-house-prices-soar |work=Nikkei Asia |date=6 December 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title='An absolute disaster': Former treasury economist blames record immigration and dismal housing for rental crisis |url=https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/an-absolute-disaster-former-treasury-economist-blames-record-immigration-and-dismal-housing-for-rental-crisis/news-story/71183e5c0465a94aadc94fe02bcbf1be |work=Sky News |date=8 March 2024}}</ref>

===Employment===

Australia maintains a [[Skilled Occupation List (Australia)|list]] of skilled occupations that are currently acceptable for immigration to Australia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/working-in-australia/skill-occupation-list|title=Skilled Occupations List|website=[[Australian Government]]. Department of Home Affairs|access-date=4 Jan 2021|date=10 December 2020|archive-date=4 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210104002713/https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/working-in-australia/skill-occupation-list|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2009, following the [[2008 financial crisis]], the Australian government reduced its immigration target by 14%, and the permanent migration program for skilled migrants was reduced to 115,000 people for that financial year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/03/16/2517422.htm?section=justin|title=Immigration cut only temporary 16Mar 2009|date=16 March 2009|publisher=Abc.net.au|access-date=14 July 2011|archive-date=5 August 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090805152525/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/03/16/2517422.htm?section=justin|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2010–2011, the migration intake was adjusted so that 67.5% of the permanent migration program would be for skilled migrants, and 113,725 visas were granted.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.border.gov.au/ReportsandPublications/Documents/statistics/net-overseas-migration-march-2013.pdf|title=Net overseas migration|date=31 March 2013|website=Department of Immigration and Border Protection (Australia)|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151126045250/http://www.border.gov.au/ReportsandPublications/Documents/statistics/net-overseas-migration-march-2013.pdf|archive-date=26 November 2015|access-date=28 December 2019}}</ref>

According to ''Graduate Careers Australia'', there have been [[Economy of Australia#Employment for newly qualified professionals|some declines in full-time employment between 2012–2015]] for recent university graduates of various degrees, including dentistry, computer science, architecture, psychology, and nursing.<ref name="graduatecareers.com.au">{{Cite web |url=http://www.graduatecareers.com.au/research/surveys/australiangraduatesurvey/ |title=Australian Graduate Survey - Graduate Careers Australia |access-date=18 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170827054424/http://www.graduatecareers.com.au/Research/Surveys/australiangraduatesurvey/ |archive-date=27 August 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2014, a number of the professional associations for some of these fields criticised the immigration policy for skilled migrants, contending that these policies have contributed to difficulties for local degree holders in obtaining full-time employment.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/dentists-join-the-growing-calls-for-cap-on-student-uni-places/story-e6frgcjx-1226871304881| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140402193918/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/dentists-join-the-growing-calls-for-cap-on-student-uni-places/story-e6frgcjx-1226871304881| archive-date = 2014-04-02| title = Dentists join the growing calls for cap on student uni places {{!}} The Australian}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite web| url = http://www.optometrists.asn.au/blog-news/2014/6/23/workforce-report-forecasts-1,200-excess-by-2036.aspx| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140720052514/http://www.optometrists.asn.au/blog-news/2014/6/23/workforce-report-forecasts-1,200-excess-by-2036.aspx| archive-date = 2014-07-20| title = Optometry Australia}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-05-24/thousands-of-nursing-graduates-unable-to-find-work/5475320|title=Nurses union says 3,000 graduates cannot find work|first=John|last=Stewart|date=24 May 2014|website=ABC News|access-date=28 December 2019|archive-date=19 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190519015332/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-05-24/thousands-of-nursing-graduates-unable-to-find-work/5475320|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Surfeit of vets prompts call to cap places| website=[[The Australian]]|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/surfeit-of-vets-prompts-call-to-cap-places/story-e6frgcjx-1226807060998|date=January 22, 2014|first=Julie|last=Hare|archive-date=January 25, 2017 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20170125123528/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/surfeit-of-vets-prompts-call-to-cap-places/story-e6frgcjx-1226807060998|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/news/does-australia-have-too-many-designers|title=Construction & Architecture News|website=Architecture & Design|access-date=28 December 2019|archive-date=28 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191228013236/https://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/news/does-australia-have-too-many-designers|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Accounting 'not cut' from immigration skilled occupations list for 2015| website=[[The Australian]]|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/immigration/accounting-not-cut-from-immigration-skilled-occupations-list-for-2015/story-fn9hm1gu-1227120626345|date=November 12, 2014|first=Nicola|last=Berkovic|archive-date=January 18, 2015 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20150118130524/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/immigration/accounting-not-cut-from-immigration-skilled-occupations-list-for-2015/story-fn9hm1gu-1227120626345?nk=52819a49a912daae89871175d7f130ee|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2016, the Department of Health forecast a shortfall in nurses of approximately 85,000 by 2025 and 123,000 by 2030.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/workplace-relations/forecast-oversupply-of-doctors-to-hit-this-year-amid-calls-to-halt-imports-20170103-gtle76.html|title=Forecast oversupply of doctors to hit this year amid calls to halt imports|last=Patty|first=Anna|date=2017-01-08|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en-US|access-date=2017-01-08|archive-date=27 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170827043928/http://www.smh.com.au/business/workplace-relations/forecast-oversupply-of-doctors-to-hit-this-year-amid-calls-to-halt-imports-20170103-gtle76.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2016, [[Monash University]] academics published a report which contended that Australia's immigration program is deeply flawed. The government's ''Medium to Long-Term Strategic Skill List'' allows immigration by professionals who end up competing with graduates of Australian universities for scarce positions. On the other hand, Australia's shortage of [[Tradesperson|skilled tradespeople]] is not being addressed.<ref>{{cite web
 | url =http://tapri.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Final-March-8-Australias-skilled-migration-program.pdf
 | title =Australia's Skilled Migration Program: Scarce Skills Not Required
 | last =Birrell
 | first =Bob
 | date =8 March 2016
 | website =The Australian Population Research Institute
 | publisher =Monash University
 | access-date =14 March 2018
 | archive-date =15 March 2018
 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20180315003733/http://tapri.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Final-March-8-Australias-skilled-migration-program.pdf
 | url-status =live
 }}</ref>

===Economic growth and aging population===
Another element in the immigration debate is a concern to alleviate adverse impacts arising from Australia's ageing population. In the 1990s, the former [[Treasurer of Australia|Federal Treasurer]] [[Peter Costello]] stated that Australia is underpopulated due to a low birth rate, and that negative population growth will have adverse long-term effects on the economy as the population ages and the labour market becomes less competitive.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.smh.com.au/news/national/costello-hatches-censustime-challenge-procreate-and-cherish/2006/07/24/1153593272565.html | title=Costello hatches census-time challenge: procreate and cherish | date=25 July 2006 | work=The Sydney Morning Herald | access-date=20 February 2020 | archive-date=2 January 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170102150849/http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/costello-hatches-censustime-challenge-procreate-and-cherish/2006/07/24/1153593272565.html | url-status=live }}</ref> To avoid this outcome the government increased immigration to fill gaps in labour markets and introduced a [[Baby Bonus|subsidy]] to encourage families to have more children.{{Citation needed|date=January 2017}} However, [[Antinatalism|opponents of population growth]] such as [[Sustainable Population Australia]] do not accept that population growth will decline and reverse, based on current immigration and fertility projections.<ref name="Goldie">Goldie, J. (23 February 2006)  [http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=4163 "Time to stop all this growth"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225141712/http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=4163 |date=25 February 2021 }} (Retrieved 30 October 2006)</ref>

There is debate over whether [[Replacement migration|immigration can slow the ageing]] of Australia's population. In a research paper entitled ''Population Futures for Australia: the Policy Alternatives'', Peter McDonald claims that "it is demographic nonsense to believe that immigration can help to keep our population young."<ref name="PFFAPA">McDonald, P., Kippen, R. (1999) [http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/rp/1999-2000/2000rp05.htm Population Futures for Australia: the Policy Alternatives] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110818001206/http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/rp/1999-2000/2000rp05.htm |date=18 August 2011 }}</ref> However, according to Creedy and Alvarado (p.&nbsp;99),<ref>{{cite book|title=Population Ageing, Migration and Social Expenditure |date=9 September 2009 |isbn=978-1858987248 |last1=Alvarado |first1=José |last2=Creedy |first2=John |publisher=Edward Elgar }}</ref> by 2031 there will be a 1.1 per cent fall in the proportion of the population aged over 65 if net migration rate is 80,000 per year. If net migration rate is 170,000 per year, the proportion of the population aged over 65 would reduce by 3.1 per cent. As of 2007 during the leadership of [[John Howard]], the net migration rate was 160,000 per year.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2007/11/24/1195753378227.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap2 | location=Melbourne | work=The Age | title=Farewell, John. We will never forget you | date=25 November 2007 | access-date=27 November 2007 | archive-date=3 March 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303203019/http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2007/11/24/1195753378227.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap2 | url-status=live }}</ref>

According to the [[Department of the Treasury (Australia)|Commonwealth Treasury]], immigration can reduce the average age of the Australian population: "The level of net overseas migration is important: net inflows of migrants to Australia reduce the rate of population ageing because migrants are younger on average than the resident population. Currently, around 85 per cent of migrants are aged under 40 when they migrate to Australia, compared to around 55 per cent for the resident population."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.treasury.gov.au/documents/1239/HTML/docshell.asp?URL=03_Part_2.htm |title=Part 2: Long-term demographic and economic projections |publisher=Treasury.gov.au |access-date=14 July 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110602200750/http://www.treasury.gov.au/documents/1239/HTML/docshell.asp?URL=03_Part_2.htm |archive-date=2 June 2011 }}</ref> [[Ross Gittins]], an economics columnist at [[Fairfax Media]], has said that the Government's focus on skilled migration has in fact reduced the average age of migrants. "More than half are aged 15 to 34, compared with 28 per cent of our population. Only 2 per cent of permanent immigrants are 65 or older, compared with 13 per cent of our population."<ref name="autogenerated2">{{cite news | url=https://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/backscratching-at-a-national-level/2007/06/12/1181414298095.html | title=Back-scratching at a national level | date=13 June 2007 | work=The Sydney Morning Herald | access-date=20 February 2020 | archive-date=24 September 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924202948/http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/backscratching-at-a-national-level/2007/06/12/1181414298095.html | url-status=live }}</ref> Because of these statistics, Gittens claims that immigration is slowing the ageing of the Australian population and that the "net benefit to the economy is a lot more clear-cut."

Robert Birrell, director of the Centre for Population and Urban Research at [[Monash University]], has argued: "It is true that a net migration intake averaging around 180,000 per year will mean that the proportion of persons aged 65 plus to the total population will be a few percentage points lower in 2050 than it would be with a low migration intake. But this ‘gain’ would be bought at the expense of having to accommodate a much larger population. These people too, will age, thus requiring an even larger migration intake in subsequent years to look after them."<ref name="The Risks of High Migration">Birrell, B. [http://www.cis.org.au/images/stories/policy-magazine/2010-autumn/26-1-10-bob-birrell.pdf The Risks of High Migration] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810131505/http://www.cis.org.au/images/stories/policy-magazine/2010-autumn/26-1-10-bob-birrell.pdf |date=10 August 2014 }}, Policy, Vol. 26 No. 1, Autumn 2010</ref>

In July 2005 the [[Productivity Commission]] launched a commissioned study entitled ''Economic Impacts of Migration and Population Growth'',<ref name="PC index">{{cite web |url=http://www.pc.gov.au/study/migrationandpopulation/index.html |title= Economic Impacts of Migration and Population Growth - Productivity Commission Commissioned Study|website=www.pc.gov.au |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927003902/http://www.pc.gov.au/study/migrationandpopulation/index.html |archive-date=27 September 2007}}</ref> and released an initial position paper on 17 January 2006<ref name="pc3">Productivity Commission, [http://www.pc.gov.au/study/migrationandpopulation/positionpaper/migrationandpopulation.pdf Economic Impacts of Migration and Population Growth (Position Paper)], p. 73 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060625205846/http://www.pc.gov.au/study/migrationandpopulation/positionpaper/migrationandpopulation.pdf |date=25 June 2006 }}</ref> which states that the increase of income per capita provided by higher migration (50 percent more than the base model) by the 2024–2025 financial year would be $335 (0.6%), an amount described as "very small." The paper also found that Australians would on average work 1.3 percent longer hours, about twice the proportional increase in income.<ref name="pc2">Productivity Commission, [https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/completed/migration-population/report Economic Impacts of Migration and Population Growth Key Points] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060819041814/http://www.pc.gov.au/study/migrationandpopulation/positionpaper/keypoints.html |date=19 August 2006 }}</ref>

Using [[regression analysis]], Addison and Worswick found in a 2002 study that "there is no evidence that immigration has negatively impacted on the wages of young or low-skilled natives." Furthermore, Addison's study found that immigration did not increase unemployment among native workers. Rather, immigration decreased unemployment.<ref name="er">Addison, T. and Worswick, C. (2002). The impact of immigration on the earnings of natives: Evidence from Australian micro data. [https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/ecorec/v78y2002i240p68-78.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929002200/https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/ecorec/v78y2002i240p68-78.html|date=29 September 2015}}, Vol. 78, pp. 68–78.</ref> However, in 2005 the [[Productivity Commission]] concluded that higher immigration levels would result in lower [[wage growth]] for existing Australian residents.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pc.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/9438/migrationandpopulation.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121029072643/http://pc.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/9438/migrationandpopulation.pdf|url-status=dead|title=Economic Impacts of Migration and Population Growth|archive-date=29 October 2012}}</ref> On the impact of immigration on unemployment levels, the Commission said: "The conclusion that immigration has not caused unemployment at an aggregate level does not imply that it cannot lead to higher unemployment for specific groups. Immigration could worsen the labour market outcomes of people who work in sectors of the economy that have high concentrations of immigrant workers."

Gittins claims there is considerable [[opposition to immigration]] in Australia by "battlers" because of the belief that immigrants will steal jobs. Gittins claims though that "it's true that immigrants add to the supply of labour. But it's equally true that, by consuming and bringing families who consume, they also add to the demand for labour – usually by more."<ref name=autogenerated2 /> Overall, Gittins has written that the "economic case for rapid population growth though immigration is surprisingly weak," noting the diseconomies of scale, infrastructure costs and negative environmental impacts associated with continued immigration-driven population growth.<ref>Gittins, R. [https://www.smh.com.au/business/beware-gurus-selling-high-migration-20101219-19201.html Beware gurus selling high migration] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140618142915/http://www.smh.com.au/business/beware-gurus-selling-high-migration-20101219-19201.html |date=18 June 2014 }}, The Sydney Morning Herald, 20 December 2010</ref>

Robert Birrell has asserted that high immigration levels are being used by the Federal Government to stimulate aggregate economic growth, but that per capita growth is more important to Australians.<ref name="The Risks of High Migration" /> Birrell concluded that high migration does not benefit existing residents, because it dilutes the benefit that can accrue from the export of non-renewable resources which form a large part of the Australian economy. As well, Birrell argues that a slowdown in labour force growth would require employers to pay greater attention to training, wages and conditions of workers.<ref name="The Risks of High Migration" />

===Social cohesion===
The impact that immigration has on [[Group cohesiveness|social cohesion]] in Australia is not clear. According to a 2018 report by the Scanlon Report, between 80 and 82% of Australians felt that immigration had a positive impact on Australian society. Australians under the age of 30 were twice as likely to feel positively about immigration as Australians over the age of 60 were.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/programs/hack/more-people-want-a-cut-to-immigration-compared-to-last-year/10579038|title=More people want immigration cuts in 2018, social cohesion report finds|first=Shalailah|last=Medhora|date=4 December 2018|website=triple j|access-date=4 May 2020|archive-date=8 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108095032/https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/programs/hack/more-people-want-a-cut-to-immigration-compared-to-last-year/10579038|url-status=live}}</ref> A follow-up report in 2019 found that 85% of Australians polled felt that multiculturalism had made a positive impact on Australia, but 40% admitted negative or [[Islamophobia|very negative feelings towards Muslims]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/nov/26/its-the-climate-not-immigration-that-keeps-australians-awake-at-night|title=It's the climate, not immigration, that keeps Australians awake at night &#124; David Marr|first=David|last=Marr|newspaper=The Guardian|date=25 November 2019|via=www.theguardian.com|access-date=4 May 2020|archive-date=3 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200503202141/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/nov/26/its-the-climate-not-immigration-that-keeps-australians-awake-at-night|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Politics and public debate==

Over the last decade, leaders of the major Federal political parties have demonstrated support for high level immigration (including [[John Howard]], [[Peter Costello]] and [[Kim Beazley]]<ref name="Workers of the World">[http://www.abc.net.au/rn/backgroundbriefing/stories/2006/1662023.htm#transcript "Workers of the World"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100509094632/http://www.abc.net.au/rn/backgroundbriefing/stories/2006/1662023.htm#transcript |date=9 May 2010 }}, Background Briefing, Radio National Sunday 18 June 2006</ref>). There was, overall, an upward trend in the number of immigrants to Australia over the period of the Howard Government (1996–2007). The Rudd Labor Government (elected 2007) increased the quota again once in office.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2007/s2272014.htm |title=Lateline – 11/06/2008: Immigration intake to rise to 300,000 |date=11 June 2008 |publisher=Abc.net.au |access-date=14 July 2011 |archive-date=5 December 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091205082020/http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2007/s2272014.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2010, both major parties continue to support high immigration, with former Prime Minister [[Kevin Rudd]] advocating a '[[Big Australia]]'; and Opposition Leader [[Tony Abbott]] stating in a 2010 [[Australia Day]] speech that: "My instinct is to extend to as many people as possible the freedom and benefits of life in Australia".<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,,26623542-5006301,00.html | title=Abbott urges more migration, compassion for boat people | first=Phillip | last=Hudson | date=23 January 2010 | work=The Advertiser}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/some-recent-migrants-oppose-australian-notions-of-equality-says-opposition-leader-tony-abbott/news-story/911efb8341b901808145e7c8e9287a55|title=Abbott's open door|date=22 January 2010|website=www.heraldsun.com.au|access-date=28 December 2019|archive-date=8 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408194621/https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/some-recent-migrants-oppose-australian-notions-of-equality-says-opposition-leader-tony-abbott/news-story/911efb8341b901808145e7c8e9287a55|url-status=live}}</ref> On 7 August 2018, the [[Australian Bureau of Statistics]] population clock reached 25 million 33 years ahead of predictions, with 62% of the growth in the last ten years being a result of immigration.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Australia's population will hit 25m today|url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/2018/08/07/07/14/australian-population-25million-hits|access-date=2018-08-08|website=www.9news.com.au|date=7 August 2018 |archive-date=2 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200402195739/https://www.9news.com.au/national/2018/08/07/07/14/australian-population-25million-hits|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Australia's population hits 25 million, 33 years ahead of schedule - MacroBusiness|url=https://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2018/08/australias-population-hits-25-million-33-years-ahead-of-schedule/|access-date=2018-08-08|website=www.macrobusiness.com.au|date=6 August 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=2 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200402195736/https://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2018/08/australias-population-hits-25-million-33-years-ahead-of-schedule/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2003, economist [[Ross Gittins]], a columnist at ''[[Fairfax Media]]'', said former Prime Minister John Howard had been "a tricky chap" on immigration, by appearing "tough" on [[Illegal immigration to Australia|illegal immigration]] to win support from the working class, while simultaneously winning support from employers with high legal immigration.<ref name="uk2">Gittens, R. (20 August 2003). Honest John's migrant twostep. The Age. Retrieved 2 October from {{cite web| url = http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/08/19/1061261148920.html| title = Honest John's migrant twostep| date = 20 August 2003| access-date = 19 June 2006| archive-date = 21 January 2017| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170121114057/http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/08/19/1061261148920.html| url-status = live}}</ref> In 2006, the Labor Party under Kim Beazley took a stance against the importation of increasingly large numbers of temporary skilled migrant workers by employers, arguing that this is simply a way for employers to drive down wages.<ref name="Workers of the World" />

In 2019, a [[Lowy Institute]] poll found that 49% of Australians say that ‘the total number of migrants coming to Australia each year is too high’, while a minority said it is ‘too low’ (13%), representing a 10-point rise in opposition to immigration since 2014.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Institute|first=Lowy|title=Immigration and refugees|url=https://lowyinstitutepoll.lowyinstitute.org/themes/immigration-and-refugees/|access-date=2020-07-23|website=Lowy Institute Poll 2019|language=en|archive-date=8 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200708025605/https://lowyinstitutepoll.lowyinstitute.org/themes/immigration-and-refugees/|url-status=live}}</ref> Despite this, Australia's foreign born population has continued to rise.<ref name=":2" />

A December 2023 survey conducted by the Australian Institute of Population Research at [[Monash University]] found that 74% of questioned voters preferred lower net migration from abroad.<ref>{{cite news |last1=van Onselen |first1=Leith |title=Australians are fed up with immigration |url=https://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2024/11/australians-are-fed-up-with-immigration/ |work=MacroBusiness.com.au |date=25 November 2024}}</ref> In 2024, the Scanlon Foundation's annual survey found that 49% of respondents said migration was too high.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Nicola |title=Survey reveals 50 per cent of Australians believe high immigration is making them poorer |url=https://thenightly.com.au/politics/australia/survey-reveals-50-per-cent-of-australians-believe-high-immigration-is-making-them-poorer-c-16802751 |work=[[The Nightly]] |date=19 November 2024}}</ref> In 2025, data from the ABC Vote Compass showed that 49% of approximately 340,000 respondents wanted fewer immigrants coming to Australia, while 16% wanted more.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Higgins |first1=Isabella |title=Calls for better planning as Aussie suburbs feel the squeeze amid migration, housing pressures |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-21/immigration-debate-federal-election/105182544 |work=ABC |date=20 April 2025}}</ref>

Senator [[Pauline Hanson]] has called for a [[Referendums in Australia|national plebiscite]] asking voters if they think immigration is too high.<ref>{{Cite news|title='We have a right to a say': Hanson continues population plebiscite push|language=en|url=https://www.2gb.com/we-have-a-right-to-a-say-hanson-continues-population-plebiscite-push/|access-date=2018-08-08|archive-date=2 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200402195734/https://www.2gb.com/we-have-a-right-to-a-say-hanson-continues-population-plebiscite-push/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Pauline Hanson: Give Australians a vote on immigration - MacroBusiness|url=https://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2018/08/pauline-hanson-give-australians-vote-immigration-intake/|access-date=2018-08-08|website=www.macrobusiness.com.au|date=7 August 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=2 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200402195734/https://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2018/08/pauline-hanson-give-australians-vote-immigration-intake/|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Australian Senate]] voted the proposal down 54 votes to 2.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-07-29|title=Pauline Hanson's immigration bill suffers massive defeat in Senate|url=https://7news.com.au/politics/one-nations-pauline-hanson-calls-for-a-national-vote-on-immigration-c-370797|access-date=2020-07-23|website=7NEWS.com.au|language=en|archive-date=23 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200723103618/https://7news.com.au/politics/one-nations-pauline-hanson-calls-for-a-national-vote-on-immigration-c-370797|url-status=live}}</ref>

Surveys from 2018 and 2023 have found that over 15% polled have shown support for discrimination when it comes to immigration intake. Support for discrimination was higher on basis of religion then race or ethnicity.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://lens.monash.edu/2018/12/05/1366647/calls-for-a-return-to-white-australia-policy-not-backed | title=Return to White Australia? Surveys say no | date=5 December 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite report |title=Mapping Social Cohesion 2023 |date=November 2023 |url=https://scanloninstitute.org.au/sites/default/files/2023-11/2023%20Mapping%20Social%20Cohesion%20Report.pdf |url-status=dead |publisher=Scanlon Foundation Research Institute |location=Melbourne, Australia |language=English |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250313081143/https://scanloninstitute.org.au/sites/default/files/2023-11/2023%20Mapping%20Social%20Cohesion%20Report.pdf |archive-date=2025-03-13}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Australia}}
*[[Opposition to immigration]]
*[[Remigration]]
*[[Asylum in Australia]]
*[[Demography of Australia]]
*[[Foreign-born population of Australia]]
*[[Department of Immigration and Citizenship (Australia)|Department of Immigration and Border Protection]]
*[[Europeans in Oceania]]
*[[Immigrant benefits urban legend]], a hoax regarding benefits comparison
*[[Immigrant health in Australia]]
*[[Immigration to New Zealand]]
*[[Mental health and immigration detention]]
*[[Multiculturalism in Australia]]
*[[Post war immigration to Australia]]
*[[Visa policy of Australia]]
*[[Far-right politics in Australia]]

== References ==
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist}}

=== Sources ===
{{refbegin}}
* Commonwealth of Australia. ''[http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/ma1958118/ Migration Act 1958] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220624045129/http://www5.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/ma1958118/ |date=24 June 2022 }}''
<!-- dead references:
* Australian Broadcasting Corporation, [http://www.abc.net.au/news/items/200508/1429746.htm?queensland Govts warned over affordable housing shortfall]<br />
* Public Opinion about Immigration, The Cato Institute<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cato.org/pubs/policy_report/pr-imopi.html |title= |website=www.cato.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070912042423/http://www.cato.org/pubs/policy_report/pr-imopi.html |archive-date=12 September 2007 }}
</ref> <br />
-->
{{refend}}

== Further reading ==
* Betts, Katharine. ''Ideology and Immigration: Australia 1976 to 1987'' (1997)
* Burnley, I.H. ''The Impact of Immigration in Australia: A Demographic Approach'' (2001)
* Foster, William, et al. ''Immigration and Australia: Myths and Realities'' (1998)
* Jupp, James. ''From White Australia to Woomera: The Story of Australian Immigration'' (2007) [https://www.amazon.com/White-Australia-Woomera-Australian-Immigration/dp/0521697891/  Excerpt and text search]
* Jupp, James. ''The English in Australia'' (2004) [https://www.amazon.com/English-Australia-James-Jupp/dp/0521542952/  Excerpt and text search]
* Jupp, James. ''The Australian People: An Encyclopedia of the Nation, its People and their Origins'' (2002) [https://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/immigration Excerpt about Sydney]
* Markus, Andrew, James Jupp and Peter McDonald, eds. ''Australia's Immigration Revolution'' (2010) [https://www.amazon.com/Australias-Immigration-Revolution-Andrew-Markus/dp/1741757088/  Excerpt and text search]
* O'Farrell, Patrick. ''The Irish in Australia: 1798 to the Present Day'' (3rd ed. Cork University Press, 2001)
* Wells, Andrew, and Martinez, Theresa (ed.) ''Australia's Diverse Peoples: A Reference Sourcebook'' (ABC-CLIO, 2004)

; Migration history
*{{cite web | title=Chinese Museum | website=[[Museum of Chinese Australian History]] | url=https://www.chinesemuseum.com.au/ }} (Melbourne)
* {{cite web | title=Immigrants and Emigrants | website=Culture Victoria | url=http://www.cv.vic.gov.au/stories/immigrants-and-emigrants/ }}
* {{cite web | title=Migration Museum | website=[[Migration Museum, Adelaide]] | url=https://migration.history.sa.gov.au/}}
* [https://origins.museumsvictoria.com.au/ Origins: Immigrant Communities in Victoria] – Immigration Museum, Victoria, Australia
* [http://www.migrationheritage.nsw.gov.au/ NSW Migration Heritage Centre, Australia (archived)]
*{{cite web | last=Richards | first=Eric | title=Migration | website=SA History Hub | date=12 August 2015 | url=https://sahistoryhub.history.sa.gov.au/subjects/migration-0}} (South Australia)

; State immigration websites
* [http://www.workliveplay.qld.gov.au/ Australian State of Queensland skilled and business migration information site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171008054330/http://www.workliveplay.qld.gov.au/ |date=8 October 2017 }}
* [http://www.liveinvictoria.vic.gov.au/ Australian State of Victoria official site for skilled and business migrants]

==External links==
*[http://www.border.gov.au/ Department of Immigration and Border Protection of Australia]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20180817235619/https://www.mara.gov.au/ Office of The Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA)] (archived 17 August 2018)

{{Australia topics}}
{{Oceania topic|Immigration to}}
{{Asylumaustralia}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Immigration To Australia}}
[[Category:Immigration to Australia| ]]
[[Category:Maritime history of Australia]]