Australian Federal Budget Lifts Migration Forecasts by 55,000
Australia's Labor government has revised its migration forecasts upward by 55,000 people in the federal budget. Treasury now projects roughly one million more migrants will arrive in Australia by 2030, in figures published this week.
Australia's Labor government has revised its net migration forecasts upward by 55,000 people in the federal budget, with Treasury now projecting that roughly one million more migrants will arrive by 2030. The revised numbers are higher than previous projections.
The government said the upward revision is driven mainly by demand under the international student programme and the skilled migration pathway. Treasurer Jim Chalmers said migration flows are helping to fill gaps in Australia's labour market and support productivity in the longer term.
The opposition and several state governments said the figures raise questions about whether housing supply and infrastructure investment will keep pace. Officials said work was under way with state planning authorities on a housing supply package, but no firm timetable was attached to this week's budget.
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