Labor outraged at migrant English language requirements

Advertisement

The federal budget included the below measure indicating that an English language requirement will be introduced for partner visas and their permanent resident sponsors:

As noted above:

“These changes will help support English language acquisition and enhance social cohesion and economic participation outcomes”.

Elaborating on the measure, Prime Minister Scott Morrison clarified that applicants will only need to prove their basic language ability:

Advertisement

“It’s a much more basic level of English language competency and we think this is important to just enable people to engage to access government services, for example, to engage with those who are seeking to assist to access and get the best possible medical treatment to understand what teachers are saying at school at parent-teacher conferences, to understand their rights”.

However, the measure has already been attacked by migrant groups (here and here):

Calling it a “shocker”, Melbourne-based migration agent Ranbir Singh said this could spell bad news for permanent residents intending to bring their partners to live with them in Australia permanently…

Calling it the most shocking budget in the modern history for migration, Melbourne-based migration agent Navjot Kailay said while he awaits further policy disclosure from the government, a functional language condition for partner visa category would jeopardise the plans of many Australians planning to bring their partners to live in the country permanently.

“This is the most shocking budget outcome for migration in years and keeping a language condition on partner visa applicants is completely unjustified”.

Advertisement

The Labor Opposition – always willing to put non-voting migrants ahead of actual citizens – also slammed the policy as “racism”:

Advertisement

As usual, Labor failed to acknowledge that the Productivity Commission’s (PC) Migrant Intake into Australia report explicitly 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”.

So, is the PC “racist”? Obviously not.

In principle, it makes perfect sense for prospective migrants and citizens to be required to speak and read basic 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, gaining employment, as well as to fulfil the responsibilities of residency.

The importance of English-language proficiency is also reflected in the median pay of permanent migrants. According to the ABS, migrants with English-speaking backgrounds earn significantly more than those from non-English speaking backgrounds:

Advertisement

All visas:

Skilled visas:

In summary, the Morrison Government’s basic English-language requirements are long overdue. Labor’s criticisms don’t pass the pub test.

Advertisement
About the author
Leith van Onselen is Chief Economist at the MB Fund and MB Super. He is also a co-founder of MacroBusiness. Leith has previously worked at the Australian Treasury, Victorian Treasury and Goldman Sachs.