Dr Anthony Pun, OAM

(Reference: http://www.smh.com.au/national/coalition-argues-for-sustainable-population-20100429-twmq.html)

I refer to the SMH (30/04/2010) article by Phillip Coorey entitled "Coalition argues for sustainable population". 

Australia still needs immigration for national economic development, either to address skill labor shortages or getting more young people to pay taxes to support the welfare schemes for the aged.  This issue was seriously considered nearly a decade ago by the Federal Liberal government and led by Phillip Ruddock, the then Minister for Immigration.  The former Premier of NSW Bob Carr often argued against large intake in immigration numbers based on environmental stresses.

Australia has taken in large numbers of migrants continuously since federation and it never had any problems till now.  Now, the problems become critical in terms of population sustainability in capital cities and major regional cities.  Determination of immigration intake is a complex science these days and should not be relied on one federal government department to make the national projection figures.

Lack of water and housing affordability in the capital cities contribute to population sustainability problems.  Stacking the capital cities with high rise residential apartments is not the answer.  Encouraging new immigrants to settle in regional Australia is a good idea but it failed because there is a lack of infrastructure contributing to lesser employment opportunities.  Current immigration regulations to encourage regional settlement are not binding enough to ensure they stay in the regions for a fixed term. 

The federal government needs a coordinating office whether it is to be called the  "Productivity Commission", "Productivity and Sustainability Commission" or "Population Ministry", is immaterial.  This office should look at the infrastructure, water resources, housing affordability, employment, schools (education) and industrial and agricultural development in every region of Australia, to determine the immigration intake that can be sustained in the major cities, regional cities and regional towns,   It is also hoped that the State/Territory development ministries/departments  adopt a uniform approach, based on the federal government recommendations in their sponsoring program for selected immigrants.  Putting resources in the infrastructure may improve the capacity of a region to

It was reported that the Coalition is considering trimming migrant intake which include the foreign student category.  Foreign student's education is paid by their parents and there are "settled" in Australia after completing their studies.  Most of them have a good education, speaks English well and have a "pre-settled"advantage over other skilled migrants.  It costs Australia nothing to include them as immigrants, otherwise they would end up in the US, Canada, NZ and UK.   Trimming student category may not be such a good idea.

I hope the Population Minister, Tony Burke, would take into account the basic deficiencies in infrastructures of the capital cities, regional cities and country towns of Australia when planning the "population sustainability" policy; and to make this policy a driving force in determining immigration intake and regulations.

Dr Anthony Pun, OAM

National President

Chinese Community Council of Australia