Here we go again. The Turnbull Government has reignited its plan for tougher English-language requirements to become an Australian citizen. From The Australian:
Citizenship Minister Alan Tudge has warned that Australia’s successful multiculturalism model is at risk of following the failed European path of ethnic separatism unless significant policy intervention addresses lower integration rates and falling English-language skills.
Mr Tudge has also flagged that the government will seek to expand English-language tests and require a demonstrated commitment to Australian values.
While hailing Australia’s multiculturalism model as the most successful in the world, Mr Tudge said there were signs it was no longer working as well as it had.
…Research has revealed there is increasing geographic concentration of the overseas-born population, particularly in Melbourne and Sydney where there are 67 suburbs where more than half the residents were born overseas…
Mr Tudge says the emerging ethnic enclaves are aligning with falling rates of spoken English…
There is an element of truth in Tudge’s comments. The Productivity Commission’s (PC) recent Migrant Intake into Australia report noted “the fundamental importance of strong English-language skills for an immigrant’s integration and wellbeing in Australia” and explicitly recommended “significant reforms within the current system” and “‘raising the bar’ by shifting to a universal points test while tightening entry requirements relating to age, skills and English-language proficiency”.
In principle, it makes sense for prospective migrants to be required to speak and read fluent English. It is Australia’s national language and being able to understand and effectively communicate in English is central to integrating into the broader community, as well as to fulfill the responsibilities of citizenship.
That said, while improving English-language proficiency is worthwhile, the Turnbull Government has refused to address the more fundamental issue of Australia’s migration level being far too high. It is this high intake that is causing widespread indigestion in the major capitals via crush-loading economic and social infrastructure (e.g. the road and public transport systems, schools and hospitals), making housing less affordable, not to mention damaging Australia’s natural environment and diluting Australia’s mineral wealth.
Australia’s permanent intake is currently set at around 208,000 (including the humanitarian intake), and is running at 2.5 times the level that existed at the turn of the century, and is even higher than the peak of the mining boom:
It is also this excessive migrant intake (both permanents and temporaries) that is contributing to the oversupply in Australia’s labour market, in turn undermining workers’ bargaining power and maintaining downward pressure on wages.
Unless the migrant intake is normalised back towards historical levels, population pressures and resentment will continue to grow within the electorate, ultimately leading to a voter backlash against immigration.
We don’t need another bait-and-switch to channel anger at migrants, we need a lower intake.
