The main vested interest being government: votes, replacement with a more docile Left population, and who-knows-what rewards from Big Business. The government is the real villain because it has the control to fill the country to breaking point; the others have to beg, buy or bitch to the government to get more customers.

Divisive multiculturalism helps the goal of divide and conquer as a bonus for the poor- character, self-serving politicians now infesting Canberra.

Australia has never been poorer or more divided. Too much government, not enough productive private enterprise, which has been shut down or sent overseas.

Import more people. Export the means of sustaining them.

Stop illegal immigration (Abbott). Let the legally arrived stay here as illegal ferals long after they should have gone home, and probably for good - protected by the vested interests that want cheap labour and whatever more sinister reasons that the illegals cannot complain about to authorities because they are not supposed to be here.

It's well past time for the author's “ordinary Australians (who just) watch laws being selectively enforced, loopholes openly exploited, and obvious abuses tolerated because powerful sectors benefit financially, confidence in institutions deteriorates”, to do something about it.

Voting One Nation at the next election is the only hope. However, despite the polls, my guess is that the ordinary Richard heads, who have supported bad government for generations, will back down in fright and vote the same way they always have.

A good article that I (mostly) agree with. While there is undoubtably an element of racism in some people’s hostility to migration, we should be able to have a reasonable discussion on the level and composition of our migrant intake without resort to accusations of racism. For most of the past 100+ years Australia has very successfully welcomed and integrated migrants, but there are signs that our policies are no longer operating in the interests of the community as a whole. The article makes a good case that part of the reason lies with vested interests.

Hi Rhian,

I think the allocation of the migrant intake based on the various classification is fair and reasonable, made up of 71% skilled stream, 28% family stream, 1% special category. The overall target set at 185,000, is also not unreasonable, given our needs and population. I think those screaming; "cut mass migration" are simply politically motivated, if not downright racist, there is no policy calling for "mass migration". Post Covid there was a surge in new arrivals, created by the closed door created during the pandemic, that number is steadily being brought under control. Anyone calling for zero migration is out of touch with the economic reality, and Australia's obligations. Also calling for a White Australia Policy, is detached from reality, such a policy would go nowhere near filling the skills shortages we desperately need to plug.

The intake of migrants has to move away from willy nilly & go towards targeted intake. By this i mean a percentage of various groups not just 200,000 of one 20 each of all others. Some groups are literally out-breeding Australians & others yet still more are brought in. Govt must take into consideration by how much some groups multiply once here. An equilibrium must be maintained if the Demographic is to be truly multicultural. multiculturalism does not mean being outnumbered by one or two groups within only a few years. That'll only result in a non-Australian Monoculture. Some will want that but Australians don't !

HI Indy,

Australia has a planned immigration policy, given our requirements the target number is 185,000. This idea that there is a migrant cohort that "out breeds" is another furphy propagated by the racists elements within society. The section of the population that breed are women aged around 30. The problem we have with the native born Anglo European Australian population is their mean age is estimated to be around 45, making for a substantially reduced breeding capability which makes their replacement capability substantially reduced. To maintain a productive economy, Australia needs productive people, and the only way they can be sourced is through immigration. There is no other alternative if Australia is going to maintain a high standard of living. Some people want immigrants sourced from within the Anglo/European world under a White Australia Policy, that is unrealistic given the skill requirements needed, there would not be anywhere near the number of suitable applicants required.

another furphy propagated by the racists elements
Paul1405,
So, now it is racist to draw attention to one group out-breeding another in the adopted Nation ?
By what you're saying people from Islamic countries who state that their agenda is to in their words "to be in every home & those who don't submit will be slaves or worse" are racist ? Are you calling muslims racist ?
What we need is a referendum before the next election to let Australians decide who comes here & not the government & the UN etc. Multiculturalism could be a good thing if compatibility was under more scrutiny. You sound like an immigration agent, what are your preferences of migrants ? The ones who want to start a new life here or the ones who pay you more money & promise to vote for Woke administration ?