Tammy Tyrrell (Tasmania, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Finance (Senator Gallagher) to a question without notice I asked today relating to migration.

I'd first like to thank Minister Gallagher for her thoughtful and straightforward answer on migration. Her remarks make it clear just how important it is that we keep our decisions grounded in facts, in fairness and in the long-term interests of the country.

Now, we all know migration has played a big part in building modern Australia, but it's worth reminding ourselves of the numbers. Today, around 30 per cent of people living in Australia were born overseas. That's more than double the OECD average of 14 per cent, and it's been a major driver of our economic strength. Regions with higher migrant populations actually see better wages. There's about a 1.3 per cent lift for every 10 percentage point increase in migrant share. That's because migration boosts productivity and fills the skills we need to keep our economy moving. Skilled migrants, in particular, make a strong economic contribution. The modelling on the 2018-19 skilled migrant intake shows they add, on average, about $198,000 more to the budget over their lifetime than they take out. That's a solid return for the country and a reminder that good migration settings pay off.

Nowhere is the impact of migration clearer or more essential than in our care sector, whether it's aged care, disability support or health care. Migrants are absolutely central to keeping these services running. Around 40 per cent of all care and support workers in Australia were born overseas, a much higher share than the workforce overall. That includes about 183,000 overseas-born workers as of 2021, with 54,000 of them being more recent arrivals who've stepped straight into roles we desperately need filled. These are the people helping older Australians stay safe, helping people with disability live with dignity and supporting families right across the country. Importantly, a diverse workforce helps us deliver better, more culturally aware care—something that matters in a nation as proudly multicultural as ours.

As we continue refining our migration system, we have to keep these realities front of mind. Migration isn't about replacing local workers. It's about backing them up, filling genuine shortages and strengthening the services Australians rely on. Once again, I thank Minister Gallagher for her answer. I urge the parliament to keep supporting a migration system that reflects who we are as a nation—fair, practical and focused on getting the job done.

Question agreed to.