Australia's Net Overseas Migration Falls to 292,000
The decline comes as the government considers new limits on work rights for asylum seekers, which refugee advocates warn could create a humanitarian crisis, with an estimated $1 million a week in additional support needs
Net overseas migration in Australia has fallen to 292,000 in the year to March, according to new figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. This represents a decline from the 299,000 recorded in December.
The government's target for net overseas migration is 225,000, which is still below the current rate. Net overseas migration had peaked at an annual pace of 556,000 people in September 2023, following the end of Covid-era lockdowns.
The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) has warned that the government's proposed restrictions on asylum seekers' work rights would create a humanitarian crisis. The warning comes amid reports that the government is considering new limits on the work rights of asylum seekers on temporary visas, including those appealing visa refusals.
According to modelling by the ASRC, removing work rights in Victoria alone could create at least $1 million a week in additional support needs for asylum support organisations. The ASRC has argued that taking away work rights would force asylum seekers to rely on charities that are already stretched.
## What happens next Tony Burke, the minister for home affairs, is set to release Labor's migration plan at the National Press Club, which may provide further clarity on the government's approach to net overseas migration and asylum seeker work rights.
The decline in net overseas migration is significant, given that the pre-pandemic rate was around 250,000. The government's consideration of new limits on work rights for asylum seekers has sparked concerns about the potential humanitarian impact.
## Why it matters The changes to net overseas migration and asylum seeker work rights have significant implications for Australia's economy and social services. The potential creation of a humanitarian crisis, as warned by refugee advocates, highlights the need for careful consideration of these policies. The government's migration plan is expected to provide further guidance on how these issues will be addressed.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics' new figures provide insight into the current state of net overseas migration in Australia. As the government considers its approach to migration and asylum seeker work rights, the potential consequences of these policies will be closely watched.
