Why don't Australian governments ask the people what we want? They have no mandate for a big Australia! And we only have enough water at best to hydrate, wash, sanitize and feed 30 million at best!

What we need is not more migrants but, rapid rail, nuclear energy, i.e., MSR thorium and deionization dialysis desalination for starters. And if we don't have the required skills?

Then why not copy what the engine house of Europe did and import temporary guest labour. Worked for them. Why not us?

If we had a bill of irrevocable rights, we could have a citizen's-initiated referendum!

And have a say in non-mandated outcomes! And not before time!
Alan B.

We cannot keep bringing people in when we can't even house those already here.
Alan B,
I'm sure that if it was possible to just import talent without the bodies harbouring it they'd do that.
The real problem here is that we have ample bodies but no usable talent ! Unless of course you believe being tattooed & hooked on drugs is what's required to do the skilled work ?

Just try to get a job, Indyvidual, if you are over 45 or 50, or if you are young and need to be trained. What business wants is a cheap, compliant work force that won't need to be trained and will put up with low wages (maybe even wage theft) and bad (or even unsafe) working conditions. Mass migration from poor countries fills the bill admirably.

Mass migration from poor countries fills the bill admirably.
Divergence,
It also fills the enclaves !

If menial jobs aren't being taken by our useless than they should be filled as part of a National service as part of regaining common sense & common decency & common responsibility & respect !
Simply paying lazy people for becoming more lazy & more stupid & more of a burden is exactly what we don't need but will end up with if we insist on perpetuating status quo !
Albo is in a very good position to introduce a non-military national Service for unemployed young people. Pay them $20/day & feed & house them for at least twelve to eighteen months or at least till they get a job. The acquired social skills alone will pay dividends to our society !

Hey Indyvdual,
I've always thought the correct amount should be 'double dole for full time work' so if they get $500 a fortnight on the dole now, give them $500 a week for working full time 'doing things to help the government save money', and also give them training credits which can be spent up-skilling. Make more courses and qualifications accessible online and app-based, use the training credits to cover the cost of testing, and add the qualifications of a digital resume, so people can't lie.