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In September 2024, Matt Thistlethwaite, the federal assistant minister for immigration, told the Sydney Institute that “for many decades Australia hasn’t had a migration plan” and that “Australia’s migration policies have lacked direction and purpose”.
“Migration’s been unresponsive to Australia’s needs”, Thistlethwaite said. “It has provided marginal economic benefit and hasn’t enhanced labour productivity. It has been concentrated in capital cities, creating some social tension, and skills shortages have persisted despite steady flows of new arrivals with needed skills and competencies”.
Minister Thistlethwaite’s comments were spot on.
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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.
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