With all the fuss over 457 visas in recent weeks, and prime minister Julia Gillard due to address the issue today at a conference today, it’s worth looking beyond the cries of vested interests and politicians…
Will stronger economic integration test the resilience of the Australia-New Zealand relationship?
AAP
In March this year Australia and New Zealand will celebrate the 30th anniversary of a trade agreement known as Closer Economic Relations (CER). Few Australians and New Zealanders are likely to notice…
The Council has its work cut out to facilitate a rational, evidence-based debate about Australian migration.
Wenxiong Zhang
The announcement of the formation of a Migration Council of Australia and its launch by the Governor General on August 1, confirmed by Department of Immigration and Citizenship official Gary Fleming at…
Are mining towns benefitting from overseas migration? Not according to the census.
AAP/BHP
AUSTRALIA BY NUMBERS: The Australian Bureau of Statistics has released the first batch of its census data. We’ve asked some of the country’s top demographers and statisticians to crunch the numbers on…
More than 21 million people were counted in the 2011 Census.
Australian Bureau of Statistics
AUSTRALIA BY NUMBERS: The Australian Bureau of Statistics has released the first batch of its 2011 census data. We’ve asked some of the country’s top demographers and statisticians to crunch the numbers…
We all know moving is hard. It’s even harder when you don’t want to go. But it can still be a positive decision.
United Nations
Who are the “climate change migrants” we hear about with increasing regularity in the media and in global and regional policy forums? Are they the victims of devastating environmental forces – the result…
Changing patterns in Indian migration in Australia is also altering the flow of money between the two nations.
Flickr/Chris Hacking
“This house, Australia. This house, Australia. This house, Australia,” says Mohinder (a pseudonym) 29, pointing out that young men from six of the 13 houses in his alley in TarnTaran have migrated.
“That…
There has been a concerted push for foreign workers to fill the gaps in the resources industry.
AAP
Within the much publicised debate of labour shortages in the resources sector, there is now a concerted push to open up employment to larger numbers of skilled foreign workers.
Large employers such as…
The AFL is throwing everything is has at Greater Western Sydney.
AAP/Paul Millar
The 2012 AFL debut of the GWS Giants is the culmination of efforts by the powerful, cashed up body that administers Aussie Rules to make inroads into the rugby league-obsessed, poor and predominantly refugee…
Increasing our refugee intake will remove the incentive to get on boats.
AAP/Josh Jerga
Another refugee boat has sunk. Several hundred people have drowned. Why do they keep trying to come? What should our response be?
If you are an optimist with no sense of history, you would be forgiven…
Developing smaller urban areas may mean better employment and living conditions for migrant workers.
AFP
SEVEN BILLION PEOPLE: The world’s seven billionth person is likely to be born today. Beatriz Carrillo Garcia, lecturer in China Studies at the University of Sydney looks at effect a growing population…
Without reform of the Migration Act, the governments plan for processing refugees offshore would be in tatters.
AFP/Saeed Khan
Later today the Australian Government plans to put the Migration Legislation Amendment (Offshore Processing and Other Measures) Bill 2011 to a vote in the House of Representatives. Without it, the government…
Pacific nations participated enthusiastically in the Shanghai Expo last year.
Flickr/thoth188
China’s relations with its Pacific neighbours are nothing if not complex. Its trade in the region quadrupled between 1999 and 2006. And if it delivers all of the promised resources, it will become second…
Thousands of Brits moved to Australia for the thrill of a more glamorous life. But many struggled.
Flickr/MarkFaviellPhotos
Published biographies, and indeed many histories, are often about the famous, rich or powerful. And most often, they’re about men.
I’ve preferred to research and write about so-called “ordinary” men and…
The government says it’s on track to release all children asylum seekers in detention soon, but other policies need to be changed urgently.
Flickr/Takver
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights says Australia is racist. And she’s right. Racial discrimination in Australia is not idiosyncratic; it is enshrined in laws, policies and practices…
Australia needs professional migrants to fill skills gaps.
AAP/David Crosling
Australia has been a nation of immigrants since 1788. It has always sought additions to its population to increase its prosperity and economic strength.
But two recent controversies have distracted us…
