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Demographics and immigration |
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Written by Administrator
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Monday, 06 October 2008 23:01 |
- Australia’s fertility rate of 1.78 children per woman is high by OECD standards. Despite it being below the replacement rate of 2.08, the demographic lag-time means natural increase (births minus deaths) will remain positive for another three decades.
- Australia’s population was 20.3 million in March 2005 with an annual growth rate of 1.1%. The population grew 230,300 in the year ending March 2005. Natural increase accounted for 52%, or 121,300, of the growth and net overseas migration (immigration minus emigration) accounted for 48% or 110,0001. Approximately two babies are born and one immigrant arrives for every Australian who dies or emigrates.
- According to the United Nations Population Fund, Australia will have a population of 27.9 million in 20502.
- Australia, however, will take an extra 20,000 skilled migrants in 2005-06. Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone said in April 2005 that between 130,000 and 140,000 non-humanitarian migrants would be taken, with a skilled migrant component of 97,500, the highest level of skilled migration ever3.
- As at 30 June 2004, it was estimated that some 51,000 people were unlawfully in Australia, a large proportion of which are working illegally. In addition, some people lawfully in Australia are working in breach of their visa conditions4.
- Australia's official migration program fails to take into account the large number of New Zealanders coming to Australia freely under the Trans-Tasman agreement (net gain of 30,000 in 1999-2000)5.
- At the end of 2001, there were 858,886 Australian citizens living overseas long-term and another 264,955 shorter-term ‘visiting citizens’. None of these were identified in the census26. All of these citizens have the right to return home should they wish to and indeed they might should the situation overseas become difficult.
References 1. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australian Demographic Statistics, March quarter 2005 (cat. no. 3101.0). 2. UNFPA. State of the World Population Report 2005: The promise of equality. p.114. 3. http://www.workpermit.com/news/2005_04_14/australia/australia_takes_more_skilled_immigrants.htm 4. http://www.immi.gov.au/facts/87illegal.htm 5. DIMIA. 2002-03 Migration and Humanitarian Programs - discussion paper (rev.ed.Jan 02) p11. 6. Senate Legal and Constitutional Committee. Report “They still call Australia home: report on Australian expatriates”. Chap 3. March 2005. http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/ legcon_ctte/expats03/report/c03.pdf 
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 08 October 2008 21:09 )
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