Half of Australians Think Immigration Numbers Are Too High

Net overseas migration has risen by 509,800 people in a year.

A crowd of people mill about near the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia, on Oct. 25, 2024. Susan Mortimer/The Epoch Times

Almost half of Australians believe that immigration is too high, a significant rise from the perception on the subject one year ago, according to a national survey by the Scanlon Foundation, an advocacy group for social cohesion.

Australia’s population hit 27.1 million people in March 2024, growing by 615,300 people compared to the previous year. Net migration contributed to 83 percent of this growth.

“In 2024, 49 percent of people say that the number of immigrants to Australia is too high, significantly higher than the 33 percent recorded in 2023 and 41 percent in 2019 prior to COVID-19 era border closures,” the report (pdf) stated.

“This means Australians are now evenly split between those who think immigration is too high and those who think immigration is about right or too low.”

The report noted that this finding was unsurprising, given that the federal government and the opposition were pursuing or proposing policies to reduce immigration intake.

Further, it found that concern about the size of the migration program did not translate to broad endorsement of a discriminatory immigration program.

“More than four-in five (83 percent) people do not agree that Australia should reject migrants on the basis of their ethnicity or race while a similar proportion (79 percent) disagree that Australia should reject on the basis of religion,” the report noted.

“Of particular note, given current conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, three-quarters (73 percent) of people do not think Australia should reject immigrants because they are coming from areas experiencing conflict.

Despite concerns about the number of immigrants entering the country, most Australians appreciate migrants’ contributions to Australian society, culture, and the economy.

“Of people who think immigration is too high, 75 percent agree that multiculturalism has been good for Australia, 69 percent agree that immigrants are generally good for Australia’s economy and 68 percent agree that immigrants improve Australian society by bringing new ideas and cultures,” the report said.

Meanwhile, two in three people disagree that it should be possible to reject migrants from entering Australia due to their health or disability.

‘No Surprise’: Sustainable Population Australia

Responding to the findings, Sustainable Population Australia (SPA) said it was no surprise that half of Australians think immigration is too high.

SPA National President Peter Strachan noted the growing awareness of the link between record immigration numbers and cost-of-living pressures, including housing.

“Australia has seen net overseas migration numbers of 509,800 and 491,800 respectively in the years to March 2024 and 2023,” Strachan said.

“Most migrants head to the major cities, while existing residents are often departing to the regions, leaving nowhere that is affordable for people on low income.”

He added, “Australia has witnessed an alarming loss of habitat for other animals resulting from the impact of human activities, be it housing, other infrastructure or agriculture.”

Meanwhile, the Institute of Public Affairs has recently raised concerns overseas arrivals and departures data indicate migration will continue to “stay elevated” well as budget forecast levels in 2025.

Deputy Executive Director Daniel Wild noted the federal government was on track to deliver an unstainable migration intake of over 500,000 in 2024.

In a media release on Nov. 12, Wild noted that net permanent and long-term arrivals from January to September 2024 were 391,850, the highest on record.

He said the federal government’s out-of-control migration intake continues to be “one of the most significant social and economic failures in Australia’s history.

“Australians struggling with the cost-of-living crisis and rising housing costs can take no joy at the latest record migration intake. It shows, yet again, the federal government has zero intention of stemming the tide of record, inflationary migration that is leaving Australians worse off,” he said.

However, in a recent speech, Assistant Immigration Minister Matt Thistlethwaite said the government is determined to fix the migration system to ensure it works to benefit all Australians.

“That includes reforming our skilled migration system to drive long-term prosperity, addressing shortcomings in international education, and taking action on visa system abuses,” he said.

“For too long, the skilled migration system has been cumbersome and unresponsive to the needs of employers. We are reforming the temporary and permanent skilled migration pathways to ensure employers get the skilled workers they need as quickly as possible.”

Meanwhile, Labor’s bid to control short-term immigration and cap the number of international students is unlikely to pass, with the Opposition vowing to vote against it.

Labor aimed to return the number of international students back to pre-pandemic levels of 270,000, which is less than half of the 445,000 expected to enrol this year.