According to Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Australia’s population comprised over 7.5 million migrants amounting to 29.7% of the country’s total population for the year ending 30 June 2019. Now, the Government is expecting the numbers to fall “significantly” due to border closure in response to COVID-19 pandemic.
In previous year, net overseas migration increased the country’s population by 239,600 people and the Government has always recognised the importance of the migration and its contribution to the Australian economy. Although the current crisis has severely affected the immigration industry, the Government does not expect long term changes in terms of net overseas migration once the border and travel restrictions are lifted.
While there has been no specific time frame decided for reopening the borders yet,The Hon’ Prime Minister, Scott Morrison said that, “I can’t see international travel happening any time soon. The only exception, as I have flagged, is potentially with New Zealand” suggesting that the borders may remain closed until the end of the year and into 2021.