Prime Minister Scott Morrison says the case for slashing Australia’s immigration intake is based on “recent experience” of the actual immigration intake being "well below" the cap and that he will not change the “rigour of the processes” for getting more migrants into Australia.
“There’s a cap level of 190,000 but the actual level of the applications that have been successful are well below that. What we are talking about here is the difference between a cap set at one level and the actual arrivals have been running well below that,” Mr Morrison told reporters in Melbourne.
“If there’s a case to adjust the cap based on what recent experience has been, then I think that case is to be made.”
Australia’s current immigration intake is capped at 190,000 per year, a level maintained since 2011. The actual intake has also been consistent with the planning levels since then for most of the time until the last financial year when the intake fell to just over 162,000 – the lowest figure in a decade.
The prime minister said the enhanced integrity measured meant that fewer applicants were making the cut.
“We have a standard that the applicants must meet. What I don’t say to the immigration department is that ‘You need to get these many people in the door’,“ he said.
“Over the years we have been far more successful in bringing greater integrity in the assessment of applications. And if that has resulted in a lower intake, then that only speaks to the rigour of the processes and we don’t propose to change the rigour of the processes.”
The decline in the actual immigration intake in 2017-18 was primarily driven by a cut in skilled and family stream visas with the skilled visa approvals slashed by 12,000 and a 15 per cent cut in family visas. In 2016-17, the immigration intake was 183,000 people.
Citizenship changes abandoned
Under Malcolm Turnbull in 2017 the Federal Government announced an overhaul of citizenship law, proposing to introduce a stand-alone English language test and increasing the general residence requirement for permanent residents from one year to four years before they could apply for citizenship.
After a defeat in the Senate in October 2017, the government agreed to make changes to the proposed law, including lowering the English language standards. However, the Government now seems to have abandoned the changes due to joint opposition from Labor and the Greens.
“We have faced some serious frustrations from a Labor party who can’t make up their mind on these things. The leader of the opposition has a habit of having his mind changed with the wind when it comes to these things,” said Morrison.
“Our policies when it comes to citizenship have always been strong,” he added.
“In our legislation, all the measures we have introduced, many of which have passed and some of which we would still like to pass are designed to ensure we uphold the special nature of citizenship in this country - that it’s valued, that it’s not disrespected. “
The Government had listed the legislation for discussion and passage during the Spring sitting of parliament last year. However, it wasn’t brought for a discussion as Labor and the Greens, as well as some crossbench senators, remained firmly opposed to the proposed changes despite overtures by the Government.
Now with the federal election in May, the proposed citizenship changes seem unlikely to pass during the current government’s term.
