Two leading experts on migration policy have called for comprehensive and evidence-based migration and population policies to underpin both Australia’s economy and social cohesion.

Professor Alan Gamlen, the director of the ANU Migration Hub, says migration can continue to be a transformative benefit for Australia if it can look past the myths to develop policy that will pay off.

“Migration is a defining issue of the 21st century, shaping economies, societies and political landscapes worldwide,” he said.

Meanwhile, former immigration official Dr Abul Rizvi says if he were immigration minister, he would develop a population plan.

“If there is one thing politicians should have learnt in the last three years, it is that Australians expect them to manage long-term net migration and thus our rate of population growth,” Dr Rizvi said.

“That might seem like a statement of the obvious but neither the Coalition Government (prior to COVID when international borders were closed) nor the Labor Government have been prepared to determine a long-term net migration target; to publicly explain the rationale underlying that target; and to put in place an administrative framework with a single responsible minister to manage things in order to reach that target,” he said.

The pair, writing in the policy journal ‘Pearls and Irritations’, both say cohesive population and migration policies are key to Australia’s future.

Prof Gamlen says Australia’s two main permanent visa channels are the small humanitarian program, which is capped at 20,000 visas a year, and the permanent migration program, capped at 185,000 visas a year, and that both major parties have indicated they will support permanent migration.

He says this approach to migration is a reality that must be managed wisely.

“Well-designed policies can attract skilled workers, support key industries and enhance cultural diversity while supporting social cohesion,” Prof Gamlen said.

But he said migration has its challenges, from labour market disruptions to social tensions and risks of exploitation.

“Sometimes… immigrants can become scapegoats for problems like housing, congestion or crime — even when the data show immigrants aren’t to blame,” Prof Gamlen said.

“However, these challenges are not insurmountable and should be addressed through sound policies, rather than reactive restrictions or misinformation-driven debates,” he said, adding that migration policies should be “coherent, fair and effective”.

Prof Gamlen described what a good migration policy looked like.

“Critically, effective migration management requires well-trained professionals with access to accurate, up-to-date data and a solid understanding of policy instruments,” he said.

“There is universal recognition that governments and international organisations need to invest in training officials and improving migration data collection and analysis.

“Experts also agree that immigration policies should enhance individual freedoms, while ensuring societal cohesion and economic stability, that governments should simplify immigration regulations, address risks of brain drain in source countries and ensure fair labour migration practices.

“Policies that often deliver complex, inefficient systems lead to confusion and opportunities for smugglers, traffickers and unscrupulous recruiters.

“That’s why experts recommend simplified immigration controls, streamlined recognition of foreign credentials and coordinating migration and development policies,” Prof Gamlen said.

Dr Rizvi said Australia needs a population plan to enable better planning for our future by governments at all levels and businesses.

“It would need to appoint a single minister responsible for the net migration aspect of that plan. That must be the immigration minister and not the treasurer as the treasurer does not control visa delivery,” he said.

Dr Rizvi said it was not easy to hit a net migration target, but it is possible to get within a 10,000 plus or minus figure for net migration.

He said the government needs to explain the rationale behind long-term forecasts of population and net migration, as well as the economic, social and humanitarian benefits.

“It would need to explain the implications of that plan for productivity and innovation. Also, the implications for industries such as international education, tourism, health and ageing, house building as well as implications for infrastructure, housing, regional development, the environment and service delivery,” Dr Rizvi said.

He said one issue faced by successive governments has been criticism of the idea of a ‘big Australia’.

“It is in this context that the government needs to explain to Australians the relationship between the level of net migration, the rate of population ageing and the point at which deaths begin to exceed births,” Dr Rizvi said.

“Australian Governments have avoided developing such a plan because they fear no one will agree to that plan and its forecast of net migration. It would require a brave prime minister. But it would be the right thing to do. Good policy can sometimes be good politics,” he said.

Read the full articles: https://johnmenadue.com/post/2025/04/good-migration-policy-pays-this-is-what-it-looks-like/#:~:text=Migration%20can%20continue%20to%20be,societies%20and%20political%20landscapes%20worldwide.

https://johnmenadue.com/post/2025/04/if-i-was-immigration-minister-i-would-develop-a-population-plan/