Australia’s migration debate needs clear targets, credible delivery plans and honest discussion of the consequences – not caps that cannot work or promises that ignore visa backlogs.

The Labor government is belatedly expected to release a plan to get net migration down to the 225,000 the prime minister has promised. The Coalition continues to issue thought bubbles that may be good politics but make little policy or administrative sense. One Nation changes its policy position every week as the media gradually asks difficult questions. How should Australians make any sense of this?

It’s best to start with the questions Australians should ask each of the parties.

What is your long-term net migration target and why is that the most sensible?

How do you propose to deliver that target given net migration is currently running at around 300,000 and we have a stock of around 3 million temporary entrants in Australia putting unsustainable pressure on permanent migration?

What are the consequences of delivering that target and how will the transition be managed?

Treasury has for many years now favoured a long-term net migration target of around 225,000. In essence, that target seeks to balance our capacity to manage infrastructure, housing and service delivery demands with the rate at which our population ages. Lower net migration means faster population ageing.

Until recently the government has largely ignored........

© Pearls and Irritations