The Proposed Migration Cuts Make Zero Economic Sense

Political parties in Australia are arguing about how many immigrants to allow into the country each year. The Coalition, the main opposition group, wants to cut migration numbers sharply — possibly to as low as 100,000 people per year. Many Australian readers say this plan would hurt the economy and is not well thought out.

Some people think the argument about numbers is missing the real point. They say politicians should be working on plans to grow the economy and help people earn more. One reader said the debate over who can propose the biggest cut is pulling attention away from issues that truly matter.

Other readers say cutting immigration would actually make Australia poorer. Mukul Desai said that Australia's living standards have always been tied to how many migrants come here. He pointed out that cutting immigration sharply would suggest every past government was wrong to let more people in.

Some letter writers used stronger language. They said blaming immigrants for economic problems is unfair and dangerous. One reader compared this kind of blame to harmful ideas that caused disaster in Europe during the 1930s.

Readers also noted that immigration has helped Australia's economy grow for many years. Philip Dowle asked why anyone would cut migration right when a recession might be on the way. Tony Simons added that international students and backpackers bring clear benefits and are only a small part of the housing problem.

Other topics came up in readers' letters too. Some wrote about AI, worrying about job losses and asking who will support workers whose jobs disappear because of new technology. Others debated the ban on card surcharges, saying shops are just raising prices instead, leaving customers no better off than before.