'Immigration must be in Australia’s best interests'

4 Apr 2010, 10:57 am   -   Source: AAP
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Tanya Plibersek (AAP)

Tanya Plibersek (AAP)

A national population strategy must ensure changing immigration levels remain in Australia's best interests, according to Labor frontbench MP Tanya Plibersek.

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A national population strategy must ensure changing immigration levels remain in Australia's best interests, according to Labor frontbench MP Tanya Plibersek.
  
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on Saturday announced Tony Burke, already responsible for agriculture, fisheries and forestry, would also become the country's first population minister.
  
Mr Burke has been charged with drawing up a strategy on how to support Australia's growing population and its effect on infrastructure and services, housing, congestion, the environment, agriculture and water.
  
‘Immigration intake on agenda’
 
Ms Plibersek on Sunday said she expected the nation's immigration intake to be on the agenda when the new minister begins population talks with his state and territory colleagues.
  
"The type of immigration that we have, the skills that we focus on, whether we need increased or decreased migration over time, how our environment copes - these are all the sort of issues Tony Burke will be discussing," she told Network Ten.
  
Ms Plibersek wouldn't be drawn on whether the federal government was considering cutting Australia's immigration intake soon.
  
"I believe migration should be determined by what is in the best interests of Australia, year-on-year," she said.
  
"There are some years that we have needed, particularly in recent times, to see people migration for skills shortage reasons.
  
"When we don't have those requirements, it makes sense to moderate immigration intake."
  
Ms Plibersek rebuffed opposition leader Tony Abbott's criticism of the population plan, accusing him of once again taking a negative stance on Labor policy.
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Your Comments

australia's best interests? 220 years!!

paul - from sydney, 2 years ago

most of us are immigrants or decendants of immigrants. Were the people of the first fleet good for 'australia' or the original people? I doubt it. This is a 220 yr old debate. Come on! Any way, seriously. The figures of 36mill by 2050 are predictions at the current rate of growth. It's not a plan to dramatically increase the population, as I understand it. The point it that we PLAN for the future and grow the crops and bulid the infructure and so on, including social intergration programs

Mr (pensioner.)

Peter Wignall - from Brisbane, 2 years ago

We all know that Medicine and its expensive equipment is costing more now than even 10 years ago.
More cures are possible now with this EXPENSIVE EQUIPMENT. This must be paid for.
Therefore, why not RAISE Medicare to 2 %?
Why not persuade PENSIONERS to pay Medicare? It would only cost $4.50 per week!
Look in any poker machine pub, 50% of users are PENSIONERS.
Why not CONTROL IMMIGRATION? It only brings MORE PATIENTS.
Why not SEARCH for a Political Party who may achieve some of these things?

Mr (pensioner.)

Peter Wignall - from Brisbane, 2 years ago

For every $billion made by business expansion another $billion or more will be spent by Taxpayers for their Rates, Mortgages, Travel expenses and Doctors fees for their rising stress medicine.
Politicians and many Businessmen can claim these items on 'Expenses'.
We people do not want or need this expansion.
Crush the Politicians at the next Election and vote for a Party willing to control Population, maybe the ASPP.
Stop family allowances after TWO children per Family.
GDP is failing us.

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