Zali Steggall (Warringah, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That this House:

(1) notes that:

(a) immigration has been, and continues to be, a fundamental contributor to Australia's economic strength, social fabric, and national resilience; and

(b) migrants play a vital role in sustaining small businesses across Australia, including by filling skills and labour shortages, starting new enterprises, supporting regional economies and contributing to local employment growth; and

(2) calls on all Members of the House to engage in respectful, evidence-based debate on migration policy, and to reject rhetoric that inflames division or undermines the dignity and contribution of migrant communities.

Australia has been a nation shaped by migration since the post World War II era, with immigration driving population growth, workforce expansion, cultural diversity and long-term economic resilience. Around 30 per cent of Australia's population was born overseas. This is one of the highest shares in the developed world, and it's clear evidence that migration is a defining structural feature of the country's economy and society.

For those who get confused—migration is the movement of people between countries, including people here temporarily on a visa. Migration delivers a measurable net economic benefit. It's estimated that every additional 1,000 migrants contributes roughly $124 million in annual economic value through labour supply, taxation, entrepreneurship, innovation and consumer demand. By contrast, immigration is the movement of persons into a new country, with the intent to reside there permanently, including people who choose to stay after migrating here on temporary visas. One of the best parts of being a member of parliament is attending citizenship ceremonies, where we get to welcome people becoming Australian citizens. They have often been here for a long period of time. They've paid taxes and volunteered in our communities, and they're now taking that extra step of responsibility by becoming citizens, adding their voice and their vote to what we become as a nation.

It's highly damaging when right-wing, fringe parties like One Nation—and the opposition too, I suspect—have policies that, instead of looking at problems rationally, seek to blame migration or immigration for long-term structural failures. The latest census data shows Warringah has a substantial migrant presence—37.4 per cent of Warringah residents were born overseas, and 56.6 per cent have at least one parent that was born overseas. Feedback from chambers of commerce and small businesses consistently highlights that accessible and efficient migration pathways are critical to keeping businesses open, sustaining regional communities and supporting local job creation.

Australia's reliance on migration is most visible in the skilled visa program, which is designed to fill genuine shortages in health care, aged care, construction, engineering, IT, education and agriculture, where domestic workforce pipelines cannot meet the demand in the short to medium term. Skilled migrants overwhelmingly complement Australian workers, rather than replacing them, enabling businesses to expand, maintain their services and generate additional employment across local economies. Migrants are also significant small-business founders and operators, strengthening regional economies, expanding markets and contributing directly to employment growth and community stability.

Net overseas migration was 306,000 in 2024-25, down from its high after COVID. The largest group of migrant arrivals was temporary students—some 157,000 people—and the most nominated occupations for employer-sponsored permanent skilled visas are nurses, chefs and software programmers. It's important, when we have the damaging rhetoric from too many on the right side of politics, that we have firmly in mind the facts about what is actually happening when it comes to migration and immigration.

Complex challenges such as housing affordability, infrastructure pressure and urban congestion stem primarily from planning and policy decisions over the long term and should not be blamed on migration or immigration. Claims that migration is out of control are inconsistent with clear evidence showing net overseas migration moderating from post-pandemic highs and remaining within expected volumes. Periods of economic uncertainty often see a rise of antimigrant rhetoric. It's populist and it's easy, but it is false. Social research shows such narratives can distort public understanding of our immigration system and weaken our social cohesion. It's particularly dangerous when far-right political actors falsely blame migrants for government policy failures and planning shortcomings. It stigmatises communities and risks repeating exclusionary chapters of Australia's past.

A strong democracy requires respectful, evidence based debates on migration policy, including program size, skills mix and infrastructure readiness without rhetoric that undermines the dignity and contribution of migrant Australians. Well-managed migration will remain essential to economic prosperity, demographic sustainability in an aging society, thriving small businesses and a cohesive multicultural nation.

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