Poisonous
Population Politics
For the
past several years prospective immigrants, 457 temporary work visas holders and
international students have been targetted in Australia's "poisonous
population politics" conducted in the mainstream media and politics.
In
Australia, always prone to xenophobia like Britain is now via UKIP, the debate
has revolved round immigration and supposed "runaway population
growth", with demands for the Net Overseas Migration NOM to be lowered, to
slow or stop population growth.
What most
Australians, media and politicans have not realised is that population is
difference between births/deaths + NOM + existing resident population, i.e.
over half are temporaries.
Resurgence
of "White Australia" Sentiment
However,
this is not simply politics, but an orchestrated campaign by anti population
growth and anti immigration lobby under the guise of environmental concern and
sustainability, with direct links to a vast anti immigration network in the USA
controlled by racists and bigots (with whom BNP and elements of UKIP are
connected).
British,
Irish and Europeans are fortunate in general because they are not the real
target, just collateral damage, but those from Africa, Asia and the Middle East
are, i.e. they do not fit the "White Australian" image which now
seems culturally de rigeur in Australia's mostly ageing white media and political classes.
The present
Labor government (with majority of about zero) and party (described by one of
their own as mostly "ageing white males") seems to have been influenced
by these groups and accordingly have talked tough on immigration, refugees,457s, international students and population growth, with multiple (panicked)
visa and immigration legislative and regulatory changes (to the extent that
even DIAC personnel probably cannot keep up).
Next Government and Immigration
For now it
appears there will be a Liberal National Party government after elections in
September, who may participate in the "dog whistling", "race
baiting" etc. but like the Howard government may not be so concerned about
immigration. Further, the Victorian, QLD, WA and NSW governments may also exert
pressure to ensure moderate levels of immigration remain as they too are
generally positive about immigration.
This is especially since we have an ageing population with the baby
boomer demographic starting to retire, and structural employment issues i.e.
too many younger Australians study or train in occupational areas for which
there is low employment demand, while skilled shortages exist in areas of need.
Australian
Economy
Understandably
there has been some concern as the economy slows and unemployment, although
officially 5%, is more like 10% when under employment is included, but much
depends on location and occupation.
Demand for professionals e.g. accountants, engineers, ICT, senior
managers and related, according to the Clarius Skills Index, remains positive,
but health, education, hospitality and trades demand is quite soft.
The
Australian stock market has had significant increases maybe due to
international funds and local investors e.g. retirees, chasing dividends, and
if $AUD drops it could go even higher.
In the
Australian economy it is becoming clear that the mining boom maybe tailing off,
though still very significant, new projects are not being started and existing
are nearing completion, while health of the property market, is unclear.
Real Estate
& Property
Meanwhile,
partly due to high $AUD and visa restictions, numbers of international students
have continued to drop (less renters) and less tourists, but more working
holiday visa backpackers no doubt using visa for working in Australia, if they
can find employment.
In the past
Australians had been encouraged to go shopping, which they did, but now many
are maxed out on their credit cards, and Australia has nearly the highest household
debt in the world (think along with the most of the Anglo world, partly due to
real estate mortgage commitments and high cost of living).
2013 and Future in Australia
It appears
that the economy is softening and even stagnating, but not to the extent of
Europe, and if our political masters acted for the benefit of Australians,
prospective immigrants, our economy and future, as opposed to retaining political
power, it will have bottomed in 2013.
That's the median prediction, some see no problems and we should all go
out buying houses (with mortgages) and shop, while the majority seem to think
we may see a few years of rough times.
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