In the U.S, there is talk of halving the immigration rate. In the UK, the PM is vowing to reduce the number of immigrants to less than 100,000 a year. In New Zealand, immigration has been an issue at the recent election.

In Australia, we just keep on stacking them in with no discussion at all. People with “shallow roots in this land and little connection to each other”. Raising the subject of immigration brings abusive cries of “racist” down on the heads of objectors.

Immigration to Australia now averages 210,000 per year (it has traditionally been 70,000). between 2003 and 2015 our population grew by 22%, condemning us to a population of 40 million in 2050 unless something is done. And, all this without any public discussion at all, even at election times. There is even talk of outsourcing much of immigration to the private sector; imagine what rorts would bring about!

The “skills shortage” is largely mythical – with jobs going overseas hand over fist. There is a surplus of workers in some areas where shortages are claimed. A good damper on wages! Half the 'skilled migrant' numbers are actually family of skilled workers, and only one third of the immigrant intake is skilled at all!

The old “ageing population” mantra is another confidence trick, according to the Productivity Commission. Migrants also age, even more migrants are pulled in to replace them, and on and on it goes: a “Ponzi scheme”.

The economic 'benefits' of mass immigration have long been exposed as a fraud, pumping up the GDP, but actually impoverishing the population. Even the increase in GDP lurk is bummer, as Australian growth has been lower than some countries with little or no immigration. Our standard of living is falling. Housing is out of reach for many. Wages are stagnant. Prices, especially energy, are sky-rocketing; and welfare recipient numbers are climbing. Why bring people here to pay them the dole?

The government must open a discussion on this important issue.

A seasoned experienced politician will not ask a question unless they know the answer already, therefore (quote - The government must open a discussion on this important issue.) the replies from the majority of the population will say we have enough stop.

For whatever reason politicians in charge just want to do the opposite.

The only ones wanting more are big businesses. Cheaper labor and more consumers.

According to the Bureau of Statistics, 28 per cent of the population in 2016 was not born in Australia. 21% had at least one foreign-born parent. No other Western country has such a high proportion of residents from recent migrant backgrounds. Those (with) Australia-born parents are on the verge becoming a minority.

http://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2017/03/busting-immigrations-biggest-economic-myth/

"The Australian’s Judith Sloan was quick to set the record straight:

How many times does the Productivity Commission have to ­remind us that immigration is not a feasible countermeasure to an ageing population? It made this point in 2005, 2010, 2011 and 2016. “Substantial ­increases in the level of net overseas migration would have only modest effects on population and the impact would be temporary since immigrants age themselves.”

And here’s another set of facts to consider. According to academics Bob Birrell and Ernest Healy, nearly 70 per cent of Australian graduates aged between 25 and 34 have managerial or professional jobs while only 31 per cent of non-English-speaking background immigrants with a degree hold such jobs. A further 31 per cent of these immigrants are unemployed.

Note also that 80 per cent of graduate immigrants are from non-English-speaking backgrounds.

And dare I mention the government’s support for the underfunded contributing parent visa category that allows immigrants to pay for their elderly parents to migrate, and the five-year temporary parent visa category? It could be worth asking the Treasurer what impact these entrants have on the ageing of the population.

Judith Sloan was the Commissioner in charge of the PC’s 2006 review into the Economic Impacts of Migration and Population Growth, so on this topic she carries significant weight and her views should be taken seriously...

In short, trying to overcome an ageing population through higher immigration is a Ponzi scheme. It requires ever more immigration, with the associated negative impacts on economic and social infrastructure, congestion, housing affordability, and the environment...

Separately in her article, Sloan calls for the government to cut Australia’s permanent migration intake to 100,000. Such a level would be significantly below the intake of 190,000 currently and the 193,000 annual net overseas migration (NOM) experienced since 2003. That said, it would still be generous from a historical perspective, given the long-run average NOM is around 70,000 people per year (see next chart)."

leoj,

Yes. Judith Sloan and the and the Productivity Commission have more credibility than a media scribbler, who apparently does no research at all. Bob Birrell is another experienced voice to listen to.

It is difficult to see how such a vast number of dissimilar newcomers will integrate successfully into mainstream Australia. Australians are in demographic and cultural retreat. The 2016 census confirmed what we can see every day on the streets of our cities: immigration is transforming Australia into something very different from the mainly European, Christian society that most of the adult population grew up in.