Australia can and should pursue immigration as a crucial source of economic advantage and cultural stimulus.
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Growth 47: Immigration and multiculturalism
Growth 47: Immigration and multiculturalism
Posted : Wednesday, November 18, 2009
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For the immediate future Australian immigration will be
increasingly middle-class, English-speaking and readily employable.
Exceptions will be from the humanitarian program, from Pacific
Islanders transiting through New Zealand and from some immediate
relatives of those already settled. But the numbers will be small
and resulting social problems controllable through settlement
services, welfare provision and a higher level of employment than
at present. Those who object on racial grounds to a varied intake
will continue to complain, as they do elsewhere. Those who believe
that Australia is "full up" will continue to press for zero net
migration. But these approaches are not in Australia's interest.
Nor does the likely impact of international movements on Australia
justify them.
At an economic level, Australia has a choice. We can be a small
economy or a big economy. We can have a large growing domestic base
for our global integration or we can hold back and fall steadily
behind.
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