Australia can’t run an uncapped temporary migration program with a capped permanent program and offer all temporary migrants a road to permanent residency.
Australia’s debates about migration tend to focus too much on numbers, and not enough on who we choose. Accepting 30,000 more skilled permanent workers is a good move – but there’s more to be done.
Australians are highly engaged on the topic, yet don’t have strong opinions either way. Among potential migrants, only Indians showed a high degree of interest in Australia as a destination.