geography global migration AUSTRALIA CASE STUDY

How does Australia influence and drive change in the global migration system?

• Australia is a leader when it comes to migration influence and policies- due to how strong it is economically, historical position as global leader. Strong influence on global migration

• Generally more people migrate to, rather than away, from Aus. Contributes to population growth

• June 2023, Aus population included 8.2mil people who were born overseas. 30.7% of people born outside Aus. India, England, China, New Z countries of birth with largest populations.

Patterns of emigration and immigration

Reasons why migration to Australia is attractive

• Free/ subsidised healthcare. Medicare- access to range of health services, free medical care in public hospitals, lower cost for prescriptions. Certain visitors, all Aus citizens and all eligible Aus residents access these services after enrolling in Medicare 

• Free/ subsidised education. Free/ subsidised primary, secondary, tertiary education

• Weather + climate. Temperate weather, variety of conditions. Promotes outdoor lifestyle

• Liveability. many Aus cities ranked among the best in the world to live—> accessing stability, healthcare, culture + environment, education, infrastructure

• Culture. Multiculturalism since 1970s, mix of cultures- arts, food, entertainment.

• Pathway to citizenship. Permanent residents qualify for citizenship. Dual citizenship recognised, original citizenship not given up

• Economy. Solid, Aus dollar safe + stable, remittance sending simple + affordable to SE Asia. Minimum wage relatively high

• Jobs + opportunities. High + low skilled jobs available, higher wages than source countries relative to cost of living

Post war migration:

• after WW2 Aus launched massive immigration programme, Aus must ‘populate or perish’

• Hundreds of thousands of displaced Europeans migrated to Aus, over 1mil British subjects immigrated- known as ten pound poms

• Scheme initially targeted citizens of all Commonwealth countries, after the war it extended to other countries- Italy, Netherlands. Qualifications: migrants must be in sound health, under 45- don’t drain resources

• Initially no skill restrictions, under White Aus policy, mixed race people found it difficult to migrate

• 1973 multiculturalism displaced cultural selectivity in immigration policy

Current patterns

• net overseas migration (immigration-em migration) increased, 30,000 in 1992-3, 180,000 in 2015-16. largest components are skilled migration and family re-union programmes

• Largest groups of overseas born residents for each state and territory in 2016- top 3: New south wales- China (260,000 people). Victoria- England (193,000). Queensland- New Z (220,000).

Australian emigration

• 2015, 2% of Aus born people lived outside Australia.

• Emigration was net positive for Australia, ‘brain circulation’ as Australians added to skills and expertise and ‘brain gain’ as skilled people return to Aus, skilled immigrants arrive

• Between 1999-2003, seven highly educated migrants to Aus for every one highly educated Aus who was living elsewhere in countries within OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development)

Australias migration history

• Gold rush era. Began 2851, led to enormous expansion in population, including large numbers of British and Irish settlers along with smaller numbers of Germans, other Europeans and Chinese. Chinese subject to increasing restrictions + discrimination, impossible for many to remain in the country

• Migration had to be subsidised (financial support). Great distance from Europe—> Aus made it more expensive, less attractive than USA/ Canada. Subsidy varied due to different number of immigrants needed during different stages of economic cycle- labour + skills shortages especially post WW2

• White Australia policy- federation of Aus colonies into single nation, one of first acts of new Commonwealth government was the immigration restriction act 1901. Strengthening and unification of disparate colonial policies designed to restrict non-white settlement. Virtually impossible to pass a test- they are in different languages such as Scottish Gaelic

• Official policy of multiculturalism since end of White Australia policy in 1973. Large and continuing wave of immigration from across the world, Asia largest source of immigrants in 21st century

• 2019-2020 immigration to Australia came to a halt during covid. Shrinkage of Aus population for first time since WW1.

Migration policies

• federal government (overarching Aus government) allocates places each year for people wanting to migrate permanently to Australia

• 2022-23 migration programme. Designed to boost Aus economic recovery and drive social cohesion. Planning level of 160,000 places: skill 109,900 places- improve productive capacity of economy, fill skill shortages in labour market. Family 50,000 places- made up of partner visas, enable Australians to reunite with family members from overseas, pathways to citizenship. Special eligibility 100 places- visas for those in special circumstances, inc permanent residents returning to Aus.

• Focus of migration programme changed since 1945. Aus immigration policies evolved- focus on attracting migrants (mainly from UK) for purpose of increasing Australias population, focus on attracting workers and temporary (skilled) workers to meet skilled labour needs of economy

• Main focus on labour market outcomes of migrants. Policy measures implemented with aim of increasing likelihood that new migrants will be able to gain employment and achieve economic independence, reducing risk of migrants becoming a drain on public purse. Tightening of English language requirement. By 2008-9 skilled migration made up 67% of migration programme.

Interdependence with countries linked to Australia by migration

Interdependence with UK (largest bilateral corridor)

• 2025 over 1.1 million people living in Australia were born in the UK

• Trade- UK signed Australia agreement, and New Z agreement. Deliver benefits to people, businesses, communities throughout country, support levelling-up agenda. UK-Australia agreement expected to increase trade by 53%, boost economy by £2.3bil and increase wages each year in long-run. UK-NewZ agreement expected to increase trade by almost 60% and boost economy by £800mil

• Security- UK, US and Aus announced historic security pact in Asia-Pacific, in what’s seen as an effort to counter china. Let Aus build nuclear-powers submarines for the first time, using technology provided by US. Aukus pact, one of countries biggest defence partnerships in decades- covers AI and other technologies

• Expats (someone living temporarily in a diff country to birth) in UK- large numbers of Aus migrants live and work in UK, creates large diaspora

Opportunities

Skilled workers:

• Australia has a range of visas that allow skilled workers to come to Australia to live, work and use their skills.

• Prospective migrants must have positive assessment of qualifications + work experience for Skilled Migrant Visa purposes.

• The addition of skilled workers into Australia via migration is an opportunity- they boost the economy through higher productivity, fill labour shortages in trades and infrastructure, and increase workforce skills and innovation.

• Also contribute to more diverse population and fill jobs in sectors facing a lack of local workers. For the 2024-5 migration programme the planning level for ‘Skill Total’ visas is 132,000

Young working aged migrants

• Contribute to the economy through filling gaps in the job market

• Young working age means less strain on healthcare

Immigrants as consumers

• increased spending, greater market demands, new business formation, enrichment of the nations cultural and culinary landscape.

• Their purchasing power and diverse tastes add significant value to the economy.

• When immigrants move to Australia they directly boost household consumption by spending on housing, food and other goods and services.

• When migrants consume goods, services they add to overall demand for labour, economic activity

Challenges

Illegal migration

• asylum seekers who arrive in Australian waters are officially referred to in government statements as ‘illegals.’

• Ministers have publicly alleged they could be ‘murderers or terrorists.’ There are thousands of visa overstayers- in 2021 there were over 100,000 visa overstayers.

• People living without a valid visa are often hidden in the community, at a high risk of exploitation and abuse, with limited access to public services, income support and legal protections.

• Governments have framed unauthorised boat arrivals as ‘queue jumpers’- suggest they unfairly skip the official migration system. Government and media also use dehumanising language- refer to migrants as ‘illegals’ who pose ‘threats to national security’

Terrorism

• It is difficult to monitor due to the size of the country

• Australians who come home from fighting overseas, may bring dangerous new skills and networks

 Tensions- pressure on resources

• Migration is putting a strain on jobs

• Almost half of Australian's think that immigration is too high

• Demand for housing has increased

• Once you get a citizenship and live there, you can have your family there.

• Low skilled jobs are available - Australia wants to train migrants up and provide them a good career so they don't leave

• Young working age means less strain on resources