Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Georgiou, for your question. I can't speak directly to that particular visa category to which you made reference, so I would have to seek advice on that. But, Senator Georgiou, you are right that, based on estimates from the ABS, the Australian population did reach 25 million at 11 pm on Tuesday, 7 August 2018. That figure is an estimate of the resident population. It includes Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents and temporary visa holders and New Zealanders who have been in Australia for more than 12 months out of the last 16-month period. It is also important to note that at any one time there are over two million persons in Australia on a temporary visa, including over 550,000 international students and graduates, around 130,000 backpackers and around 670,000 New Zealanders.

It is important when we have immigration that we do ensure that we have appropriate investment in infrastructure. That's not something that has occurred in the past. I should also point out that the government is ensuring that our permanent migration program is managed in line with our interests and genuine needs. This means that 190,000 places available is set as a ceiling level and not as an arbitrary target to be achieved without reference to the needs of the community and the economy. Our predecessors oversaw record numbers of migrants coming to Australia and lowered the eligibility standards and moved places between visa categories to achieve the arbitrary targets. In contrast, we are reforming the permanent migration program to ensure that it is targeted, sustainable and delivering benefits. (Time expired)