Melissa Price (Durack, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Science) Share this | Hansard source

On Monday I spoke about the frustration many Australians feel towards the Albanese Labor government's policy of mass migration. In 2022-23 Labor estimated net overseas migration would be 235,000. The real number was 528,000. In 2023-24 those opposite estimated 235,000. Again the real number was significantly higher, at 446,000. Despite ongoing concern about housing availability and thousands taking to the streets over the weekend, we see Labor doubling down.

Labor went to the May election promising to reduce the number of international students. But last month, Labor abandoned this pledge, instead committing to increase the cap by 25,000 students per year. This was all done in the name of sustainability. I struggle to see how relying on consistent increases is a model for sustainability for our universities, let alone for our environment, infrastructure, housing and hospital system. This week the Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Immigration and Citizenship also confirmed that the Albanese government would not cut annual permanent migration from 185,000 per year.

Let me be very clear. I do not seek to demonise migrants who want to come to our country and make a positive contribution. But this country desperately needs to debate whether the migration program is working for Australians. In just 10 years, the population of my home state of Western Australia has increased from 2.5 million to three million people. This growth has primarily been driven by overseas migration. I read yesterday that the Centre of Population has predicted WA will reach 3.5 million people over the next decade. Before we commit to another such rise, shouldn't we at least reflect on whether Western Australians benefited from the last increase? Remember, bigger does not necessarily mean better.

Ask our younger Australians whether they are better off right here right now. The average age of a first home buyer is now around the mid-30s, and, as house prices increase, it is going to become increasingly hard to pay off a mortgage without two full-time incomes. Think of what this has done for family planning. It is no wonder the fertility rate sits at 1.5 births per woman, which is the lowest rate in Australia's history. This is also a compounding problem because a low fertility rate in turn makes us even more reliant on migration going forward.

We know Labor won't meet their target of 1.2 million new homes being built. This was a target set, by the way, with budget projections outlining significantly smaller numbers of net overseas migration. Supply of housing is not keeping up, but, even if it could, let's consider what this type of housing would look like. In Perth, we already have serious concerns about urban sprawl and developments encroaching on important habitats. I ask the member for Bullwinkel about a development proposal that she doesn't agree with in her electorate, which was approved only last year by the environment minister. Don't projects like the North Stoneville development become inevitable with the government committed to mass migration? And, if we say no to urban sprawl but continue with the policy of rapid growth, is the solution instead much greater levels of higher density housing? Again, I raise the issue of family planning. High-density housing is not always suitable for families.

Why should we accept that younger generations shouldn't be able to have the same opportunities to raise a family that myself and yourself, Madam Deputy Speaker Sharkie, enjoy. Of course, it's not just housing not keeping up; neither is our infrastructure system nor our health system. In terms of health system, WA set a new ambulance ramping record last month, at 7,074 hours. This coincides with record demand, paired with the state government's failure to increase the number of beds. State government, you've got to do much better!

I want to refer to comments made by the member for Cowan, Minister Aly, just recently. On Monday, the minister said that those who marched on Sunday 'weren't protesting immigration from white Western countries; they were very clearly protesting immigration that has brown people.' I was very disappointed to hear the minister say those words. Labor lectures about social cohesion and division. What do we think statements like that do? I call on Minister Aly to apologise unreservedly.

For the first time, young adult Australians' quality of life is worse. (Time expired)

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