16 News

Introduction

Given the negligible net overseas migration (NOM) in the year leading up to March 2021, the conventional question of whether voters wanted more or less immigration became less relevant. However, this unique period provided an opportunity to gauge the Australian voting public’s opinions on the level of immigration post-pandemic. Let’s summarise the fourth TAPRI national survey conducted in late July 2021, focusing on voters’ attitudes towards population growth and immigration.

A July 2021 summary of voting opinions is as relevant today as it was a few years ago.

The Context and Natural Experiment

Between March 2020 and July 2021, Australia experienced minimal net migration due to the pandemic. During this period, interest groups advocating for a return to pre-pandemic levels of immigration, approximately 240,000 per year, had ample opportunity to present their case. These groups, including influential business organisations, the property industry, and the overseas student sector, received strong support from the Coalition Government, which expressed its intention to restore NOM levels once the pandemic was under control. This situation set the stage for a natural experiment: would voters support a “Big Australia” policy after experiencing over a year without it? Have advocates successfully persuaded them that high rates of population growth are desirable?

Survey Results and Shifting Attitudes

The survey results revealed that advocates of a “Big Australia” policy did not convince most voters. Only 19% of respondents supported a return to NOM levels of around 240,000 per year, while the rest preferred significantly lower levels of immigration, including 28% who favoured nil net migration.

Notably, there has been a noticeable hardening of attitudes towards immigration. Before the pandemic, there was a relatively even split between voters wanting to maintain or increase current immigration levels and those favouring a decrease. However, as of July 2021, only a small minority wished to restore “Big Australia” levels, with the majority opposing it.

Reasons for Opposition and Alternative Solutions

Advocates of substantial immigration often argue that addressing labour shortages and stimulating economic growth is necessary. However, when respondents were presented with this proposition, only 26% supported it. Instead, a majority (61%) chose an alternative proposition: “We should deal with worker shortages by raising wages and improving skills training for locals.” This shift in sentiment indicates that voters are not convinced that increased immigration is the sole solution to labour market challenges.

Furthermore, most voters do not support a return to previous levels of overseas student recruitment, suggesting a more comprehensive scepticism towards population growth.

Drivers of Opposition and the Impact of the Pandemic

The survey findings indicate that most voters do not believe Australia needs more people. Approximately 69% of respondents held this view, citing concerns such as congestion, overcrowding of hospitals and schools, environmental deterioration, and the high cost of housing as reasons for their stance.

It is worth noting that the hardening of voters’ views may have been influenced by their fears surrounding the virus. Strong support was observed for keeping international borders closed to foreign travellers and for state governments’ restrictions on interstate movement. These factors suggest that apprehension about further infections and disruptions to everyday life significantly shapes public opinion.

Conclusion

The TAPRI national survey conducted in July 2021 provides valuable insights into the changing attitudes of Australian voters towards immigration and population growth. The results demonstrate a notable shift from supporting a “Big Australia” policy, with a majority favouring lower immigration levels or nil net migration. Voters expressed concerns about the negative consequences of population growth and highlighted alternative strategies for addressing labour shortages. The pandemic has played a crucial role.

A bill to establish a Royal Commission into the Murdoch media empire was introduced into the parliament today by Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young. 

The bill establishes a Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry and has the full powers of a Royal Commission, including resources and ability to compel witnesses. It would report to the Parliament, rather than the Government.

The Greens will move to refer the bill to a senate inquiry following its introduction.

Greens Spokesperson for Media and Communications Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:

“Today I introduced a Greens bill to establish a Royal Commission into the Murdoch media empire and the state of media diversity in Australia. 

“The influence of the Murdoch media on Australian democracy is unaccountable and dangerous. It is time politicians stop being afraid to question the Murdoch press.

“Only an inquiry with the powers of a Royal Commission can uncover the extent of the Murdoch media’s influence and control over our democracy and fully examine media concentration in Australia.

“Even today we’ve seen the Murdoch press use leaked text messages from an alleged rape victim to prosecute an attempted political attack with little regard to the welfare of Brittany Higgins or for the public interest.

“The revelations in the Dominion case against Fox News was just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the influence of the Murdoch media.

“Rupert Murdoch seemed to do everything he could to get out of giving evidence, leaving us wondering what might have been uncovered. It’s now even more imperative that Rupert Murdoch is called to give evidence before a Royal Commission in Australia.

“Pressure is continuing to build to hold the Murdoch media mafia to account for the role they have played in the polarisation of politics and their rampant spreading of misinformation.

“Australia’s media regulatory framework is not fit for purpose and needs an overhaul. Media regulators in this country are toothless and powerless to act in the public interest under the huge political and market influence of the Murdoch machine.

“The first recommendation of the Senate Inquiry into Media Diversity in Australia was to conduct a judicial inquiry with the powers of a royal commission to investigate media regulation in Australia.

“I invite all members of parliament to support the bill and stand up for public interest journalism and truth in our democracy.”

Today, the Parliamentary Friends of ME/CFS, co-chaired by Senator Jordon Steele-John and Maria Vamvakinou, will be launched today at an event in Parliament House 11 am – 12 noon AEST. 

The friendship group aims to connect Members of Parliament with patient advocates and stakeholders from across the country, to improve outcomes for the community and ensure that people with Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) are not left behind by the federal government during the 47th Parliament. 

At the launch event, people will hear from the Co-Chairs, Penelope McMillan from ME/CFS Australia, Anne Wilson from Emerge and a community advocate, Andrew Bretherton, to speak about their lived experience.

Members of the community from across the country will attend the event online.

WA Greens Senator Jordon Steele-John, Greens spokesperson for Health and Disability said:

“It’s an honour to co-chair the Parliamentary Friends of ME/CFS. I hope this friends group will help bridge the gap between us all: people with ME/CFS, healthcare providers, and policy makers. 

“ME/CFS affects a huge number of people in this country and for decades has failed to receive the recognition and understanding within the healthcare system that it needs. Too many people have been misdiagnosed, not received access to specialised clinics and in some cases – treatment that has actively caused harm to the people it was supposed to support. 

“We know there are many actions the Federal Government could take to improve the lives of people with ME/CFS, including investing in research, better resourcing advocacy groups, and supporting healthcare providers to have a better understanding of the condition, its severity, and its impact. 

“The government must urgently ensure that current disability support systems, including getting access to the Disability Support Pension (DSP) and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) are available to people with ME/CFS. It can be extremely challenging for people with ME/CFS to navigate processes due to the fluctuating nature of their symptoms and the lack of consistent diagnostic criteria.” 

The Albanese Government has today announced the Chair and Advisory Board of the Net Zero Economy Agency.

The Hon Greg Combet AM has been appointed as Chair of the Net Zero Economy Agency. As Chair, Mr Combet will guide the Agency to ensure that the workers, industries and communities that have powered Australia for generations, can seize the opportunities of the net zero transformation. The Chair will be supported by an Advisory Board to design and establish the legislated Net Zero Authority.

Members appointed to the Advisory Board:

• Professor Ross Garnaut AC – Professor Emeritus in Economics at the University of Melbourne and Professor Emeritus, College of Asia & the Pacific at ANU;
• Professor Paul Simshauser AM – CEO of Powerlink Queensland and Professor of Economics at Griffith University;
• Anthea Harris – CEO of the Australian Energy Regulator;
• Nicole Lockwood – Chair of Infrastructure WA, board member of NBN and former Shire President of Roebourne;
• Kellie Parker – CEO of Rio Tinto Australia;
• Michele O’Neil – President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions;
• Professor Robynne Quiggin – Pro-Vice Chancellor of UTS and part of Steering committee for the First Nations Clean Energy Network;
• Anna Skarbek – CEO of ClimateWorks, Director of the Green Building Council of Australia, the Centre for New Energy Technologies, the Sustainable Australia Fund, Impact Investment Group, and Sentient Impact Group;
• Tony Maher – General President of the Mining and Energy Union;  
• Laura Tyler – Chief Technical Officer, BHP.

Mr Combet is uniquely qualified to lead the Agency, with expertise in government, investment, climate policy and industrial relations, as well as holding qualifications in coal mining engineering. He will begin the role on 10 July 2023.

Mr Combet is currently the Chair of IFM Investors and Industry Super Australia and formerly served as Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Minister for Industry and Innovation, Minister for Defence Personnel, Science and Materiel, and was a leader of the Australian Council of Trade Unions.

Advisory Board members were appointed for their significant expertise across a range of areas including workplace relations, energy markets, regional development, First Nations engagement and economic development.

In addition to the Chair and Advisory Board, stakeholder reference groups will be established to guide the Agency’s work with representatives to include regional experts, to engage with workers, industry and communities about the transition to net zero.

Last month the Government committed to legislate a national Net Zero Authority, which will work with state, territory and local governments, existing regional bodies, unions, industry, investors and First Nations groups to help key regions, industries, employers and others proactively manage the transformation to a clean energy economy.

To kickstart the Authority’s responsibilities immediately, the Net Zero Economy Agency will start work from July this year.