Australians’ attitudes towards immigration are changing, according to Swinburne sociologist Katharine Betts.
In an article published in the People and Place journal, Betts describes how Australians’ dissatisfaction with immigration is growing, with many people believing our rates of immigration should be reduced.
Her report shows that between 2004 and 2007 the proportion of voters wanting to reduce our intake of immigrants rose from 34 per cent in 2004 to 46 per cent late last year.
From a conventional economic perspective these years were rosy, so it is unusual to see support for immigration decline so steeply in such circumstances. According to Betts’ “one possibility is that the immediate negative consequences of rapid population growth became evident to more people: rising house prices and rents, pressure to increase residential densities in previously low-density suburbs, increased congestion on the roads, pressure on hospitals and health services and overcrowding on public transport.”
These changes were felt most in Victoria: “This may be because, over the four-year period, Melbourne absorbed a greater proportion of Australia’s population growth than any other region,” said Betts.
Despite this growing electoral disquiet, the new Labor Government is increasing the immigration program to record levels. The total planned permanent intake for 2008-2009 stands at 203,800.
According to Betts’ report, the demographic trajectory that the new Government has committed itself to has minimal electoral support. “Urban congestion and declining housing affordability suggest that the disjunction between this policy and popular feeling may not be easy to ignore over the long term.”
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2 comments:
keep up the great work with this blog. I am totally against immigration into Australia. I firmly believe most Australians don't want it. We need to spread the word by posting more articles like these so people less informed can judge for themselves. The pro-multiculturalists currently have have all the power but I feel the situation is changing. Often now I talk to the average joe in the street who will complain about immigration. Fantastic, stand up before Australia becomes like countries overseas.
Thanks for the positive feedback.
I also get the feeling that many Australians are fed up with mass immigration, but have no outlet to voice their complaints.
I started this blog precisely so that ordinary Australians could keep informed about immigration matters. I have found that the more one becomes informed about immigration, the more one realises that the costs outweigh the benefits.
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