The Coalition has said it will scale back temporary immigration visas if it wins office in the federal election this year, with a spokesperson saying cuts will be made to visa numbers for all migrants except those moving on a permanent basis.
But business has criticised the Coalition for the comments, saying many SMEs rely on workers visiting the country on a temporary basis, many of whom perform duties shunned by Australian employees.
Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison told the AFR that visas for all temporary migrants would be scaled back, including students, skilled migrants on 457 visas and working holiday migrants. This would include migrants from New Zealand.
Morrison said the Opposition will be “scaling back unilaterality” on non-permanent migration, but would continue to focus on skilled migration. The comments are part of a Coalition assault on immigration, an issue it has said is “out of control”.
While permanent migration figures indicate 180,000 new migrants enter the country each year, Morrison said this accounts for under 40% of all arrivals. Additionally, he said the Government “must think that all those who are not permanent residents or citizens don’t use our roads, send their kids to school, use hospital services, drink our water or catch a train”.
But business has called the coalition out on its comments. Jaye Radisich, chief executive of the Council of Small Businesses of Australia, says the Opposition must reconsider its position before recommending such drastic changes.
“The coalition needs to think very carefully before it announces any radical changes to Australia’s immigration intake. Many small businesses rely heavily on working holiday visa holders to do jobs that many Australians don’t want to do. These include agricultural jobs like fruit picking and pruning.”
Additionally, Radisich said the growth of the Australian economy will rely on skilled migrants and that the country’s overall wealth will prosper if immigration is continued.
“We have been a country that has prospered from accepting business migrants over the years, who have contributed a great deal to our growing economy. It would seem a great shame to limit those people who want to come to Australia and bring their entrepreneurial spirit.”
Additionally, Australian Industry Group chief executive Heather Ridout has spoken out against the Coalition’s position on immigration, saying yesterday on ABC Radio that it was “ridiculous” to suggest immigration is out of control.
“It is ridiculous to suggest that. We have a skilled immigration intake that’s been very, very focused. We have to have it because we have massive skills shortages.”
Ridout also said the immigration intake has benefited from the skilled migrant program, the refugee program and the temporary migration process, which has been a “shock absorber for a very strong economy”.
“I just hope we just don’t make it about population size and fortress Australia. We have to say well, if we’re going to make that choice to restrict migrants, we’re going to mean that over the years we’re going to have to pay higher taxes to support an ageing population.”
Patrick Stafford is a freelance journalist and a former deputy editor of SmartCompany.
