The government is predicting a surge in temporary migrants that will outstrip the planned cuts to the number of new permanent residents under Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s “congestion-busting” policy.
Despite reducing the annual permanent intake by 30,000, last week’s federal budget showed an increase in overseas students and temporary visa holders will more than make up for that.
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Government forecasts show overseas arrivals will boost the population by 271,700 this year – 40,000 more than projected in last year’s budget, even after taking into account the cuts to permanent migration.
Former senior immigration department official Abul Rizvi said that’s a sizable difference.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg handed down his first budget last week.
AAP
