Australia's first immigrants, the convicts, free settlers
and military personnel, arrived on our shores in 1788. Immigrants were to be the
source of growth of the newly founded Australia until 1861, mainly because of the
imbalance of males to females, which eventually evened out. Immigration was not
established until the 1860 gold rushes and never fully established until the 1920’s
when England proposed the Empire Settlement Scheme.
One of the controversial immigration policies was the White
Australia Policy, passed by the Australian Government in the 1930's. This policy favoured
British and North American immigrants, but discouraged Asians, and other Europeans from
immigration.
Australia today has a non-discriminatory immigration policy,
meaning that anyone can apply to migrate here regardless of origin, sex, race or
religion. Migration to Australia is dependent on the applicant’s ability to
meet the migration criteria of the time, which are established to meet Australia’s
national needs and interests.
There are three (3) basic factors of the immigration
criteria:
The role of immigration in Australia has been to provide
growth in the population, in the work force and increase the production of goods and
services, all of which are of significant importance. The disadvantage of immigration is
that it expends large amounts of taxpayer resources.
Every new arrival will make demands
on employment, education, health, housing, water, power and communication, to
name but a few, placing a
great deal of pressure on the government and society to fulfil these demands.
Today, people from over one hundred different cultural and
linguistic backgrounds live in Australia, making it one of the most culturally diverse
nations in the world.
However,
there
MUST be clearly defined regulations for immigration.
The Immigration Policy MUST be based on the premise that all
immigrants have an over riding and unifying commitments to Australia's interests and
future, as their first priority.
All immigrants must accept the basic structures and
principals of the Australian society, the Australian Constitution, the
Australian Flag, Australia's rule of law, tolerance and
equality, parliamentary democracy, freedom of speech and religion, equality of the sexes
and, embrace English as the national language.
It is essential for the criteria of Immigration to clearly
state, that all immigrants are required to become naturalised Australians within a
set period of time (suggested maximum of 3 years) or the terms and conditions of their
entry become null and void.
A bond, payable in cash, and in advance, for the repatriation of
those who do not comply within the specified timeframe, will ensure only those genuine persons
will be able to accept Australia's hospitality.
The rate of
Australia's immigration MUST be structured in accordance with Australia's
economic growth sustainability.
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THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF GOVERNMENT
The
Government's first obligation must always be to those people already in
Australia.
Immigration
must not be an economic, social, cultural or environmental burden upon RESIDENT
Australians.
Australia's
policy toward immigration should be directed at asking, 'what can this immigrant
do for us', rather than, 'what can we do for this immigrant'.
If
there is a genuine reason to bring in migrants with a certain skill that cannot
be fulfilled from Australian sources, then there is a case for limited
immigration.
It
is a mistake to bring in large numbers of unskilled, non-English speaking
migrants, especially during a period of economic uncertainty, high unemployment
and worldwide ethnic instability.
A
policy of zero net immigration is the only realistic conclusion at this time.
This will reduce intake numbers to approximately 25,000 on average per
year.
Consideration
must be given for the abolition of the concessional family category, which gives
applicants with family members in Australia an extra advantage over independent
applicants.
Australia's
Government must:
