Immigration and Citizenship

Editor: Justin Healey
ISBN 978 1 920801 71 7
Year 2007

Price: $20.95

  

Immigration and Citizenship
Volume 261, Issues in Society

Australia is a nation of immigrants. Since 1945 over 6 million people have come to Australia as new settlers, influencing all aspects of our society. The benefits of immigration have been many — humanitarian, economic and cultural. However, Australia now stands at a crossroads in terms of its economic need and humanitarian obligations. The skills shortage in the labour force is calling for increased migrant intake to maintain economic competitiveness and increase population levels, while a controversial border protection policy has prevented boat people from arriving on our shores. In addition to this, the term "multiculturalism" is now being phased out, with current government policy focused on a unifying concept of citizenship instead of the diversity represented by multiculturalism. What are the current key issues in immigration in Australia? More or less migrants? The economy or the environment? Cultural clash or cohesion? Does the proposed "citizenship test" for migrants applying for citizenship promote integration to the exclusion of diversity? The federal Government has recently removed multiculturalism from the immigration portfolio and replaced it with "citizenship". What is the future of multiculturalism in Australia?

Chapter 1  Immigration and Citizenship in Australia
Key facts in immigration; The impact of immigration; More skilled migrants will lift economy, but there's a catch; Just can't get enough of some migrants; New citizens face test on 200 questions; Privileges and responsibilities of Australian citizenship; Pledge of commitment to Australia; Australian citizenship statistics; All the same, only different

Chapter 2  The Citizenship Debate
New citizenship test is a wise investment; Is multiculutralism really mushy?; Move over multiculturalism, your time is past; Weaving threads into our cultural tapestry; Reality blurred by politics; Moral responsibility and citizenship; Take care not to exceed the acceptable doses of tolerance; pledges on paper are all about marks on ballots; Populate or perish, that's the choice; Citizenship: a test that will divide, not unite; The death of multiculturalism?; Australian citizenship: removing the welcome mat?; Integration or disintegration: a test for immigrants; The citizenship questions that really need testing; There's more than one model of a modern Australian citizen; Multiculturalism is still the way to go; Citizenship model will work for PM; A test of our good faith; Preserve a unique Australia; Time to open the door: immigration and public attitudes.

Glossary; Facts and Figures; Additional Resources; Index



FAST FACTS from this volume
  • In the 51 years of planned post-war migration, Australia has seen: around 6.5 million migrants arrive comprising about 3.35 million males and 3.15 million females; more than 660,000 people arrive under humanitarian programmes, initially as displaced persons and more recently as refugees, and; a population rise from about 7 million to over 20 million.
  • The highest number of settlers to arrive in any one year since World War II was 185,099 in 1969-70. The lowest number in any one year was 52,752 in 1975-76.
  • Today, nearly one in four of Australia’s 20 million people was born overseas. For the past three financial years, the United Kingdom has been the major source country for migrants.
  • The number of settlers arriving in Australia between July 2004 and June 2005 totalled 123,424. They came from nearly 200 countries. Most were born in the United Kingdom (14.8%), New Zealand (14.1%), China (9.0%), India (7.6%) and Sudan (4.6%).
  • Today’s migration programme recognises that business globalisation has resulted in a major flow of people who often do not intend to stay in Australia permanently.
  • At 31 March 2005, the estimated resident population for Australia was 20.3 million, an increase of 230,300 people since 31 March 2004. The annual population growth rate (1.1%) was consistent with levels recorded in previous years. During the past 10 years, Australia’s population increased steadily by between 1.05 to 1.36% a year.
  • At 30 June 2004, 23.6% of the estimated resident population of Australia were born overseas. Of those born overseas, 31.3% were born in North-West Europe, 17.7% in Southern and Eastern Europe and 12.6% in South-East Asia. The top five countries of birth made up 45.5% of the overseas-born population.
  • Planning levels under the Migration (non-Humanitarian) Programme for 2005-06 are 130,000-140,000.
  • A total of 13,000 new places have been created for the 2005-06 Humanitarian Programme which is comprised of 2 main components: a total of 6,000 places have been allocated to the Refugee category; a total of 7,000 places have been allocated to the Special Humanitarian Programme category.
  • Between 1 July 2004 and 30 June 2005 a total of 93,513 temporary residence visas were granted. Of these, 56,918 were granted in the economic (skilled based) visa subclasses, 22,070 in the social/cultural visa subclasses and 14,525 in the international relations visa subclasses.
  • The number of visa overstayers in Australia at 30 June 2005 was estimated to be around 47,800, a significant decrease on the estimate of under 51,000 at 30 June 2004 and around 59,800 as at 30 June 2003. The estimated 47,800 overstayers in the community at 30 June 2005 comprised around 40,630 visitors, 2,860 students, 2,220 temporary residents and 2,090 in other categories. The majority of overstayers are in the 41 to 50 year age group (22.62%) and the 31 to 40 year age group (21.72%). Approximately 60% of overstayers are males and 40% are females.
  • Immigration affects the demand side of Australia’s eco-nomy through: migrants’ own spending (food, housing and leisure activities); business expansion (investment to produce extra goods and services); expansion of government services (health, education and welfare). It also affects the supply side of the economy through: labour, skills and capital introduced into Australia; new businesses developed by migrants; migrant contributions to technology; adding productive diversity through knowledge of international business markets.
  • Like all Australians, migrants pay taxes to, and receive benefits and goods and services from, government. Research shows that, overall, migrants contribute more in taxes than they consume in benefits and goods and services. As a result migrants generate surpluses for government.
  • In Australia today, nearly one in four people were born overseas, 43% of all Australians were born overseas or have at least one parent who was born overseas and in recent years, people from around 185 different countries have made their home in Australia.
  • Natural increase has been the main source of population growth over the past hundred years, contributing two-thirds of the increase in population between 1901 and 2001. Immigration has also been a significant contributor to Australia’s population growth but has been more volatile.
  • At the end of World War II, Australia’s population was just over 7 million, with around 90% born in Australia. Today, the population is just over 20 million, with slightly more than 75% born in Australia.
  • Over 4 million people have become citizens since Australian Citizenship was introduced in 1949.
  • 95% of the population are Australian citizens.
  • Currently more than 900,000 permanent residents are eligible to become Australian citizens.
  • In 2005-06, 103,350 people from over 175 different countries were conferred with Australian citizenship at ceremonies.