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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-07-24 Daily Xml
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SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE: INQUIRY INTO NEW MIGRANTS

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (16:05): I move:

That the final report of the committee's inquiry into new migrants be noted.

The terms of reference for the inquiry into new migrants were advertised on 28 January 2012. The committee wrote directly to a number of individuals and organisations with expertise and interest in the subject matter, inviting them to provide a submission. Fifteen written submissions were received, and 51 witnesses, including representatives of 21 organisations, gave evidence to the committee. The hearing of public evidence commenced in February 2012 and concluded in February 2013.

In conducting the inquiry, the committee sought to provide a snapshot of the number of new migrants who have arrived in South Australia since 2000 and to report on how they have settled into their new culture. The committee was aware of the importance of understanding the complexities of contemporary migration and was interested to understand the social, cultural and economic impact of new migrants in South Australia.

The committee noted the timing of the release of data from the most recent census collection in 2011. The first release of data occurred more than halfway into the inquiry deliberations, therefore much of the evidence the committee heard concerned information and analysis from the 2006 census collection. Additional statistical information was obtained, where appropriate, to adequately report on the terms of reference.

Before going further, I take this opportunity to thank the former presiding members of the Social Development Committee, the Hon. John Gazzola and the Hon. Carmel Zollo, who provided valuable input into the inquiry into new migrants. I also thank from the other place Ms Frances Bedford, Mr Alan Sibbons, Mr David Pisoni and the Hon. Bob Such. From this chamber, I thank the Hon. Kelly Vincent, the Hon. Jing Lee and the Hon. Dennis Hood. Inquiries such as this would not be possible without the valuable contribution of the many individuals and organisations who gave up their time to come forward and give information. We thank all those who presented evidence to this inquiry, either in writing or by appearing before the committee.

It is interesting to note that South Australia has often been the first state to implement innovative approaches and practices to assist new migrants. In 1965, South Australia was the first state in Australia to prohibit discrimination on the ground of race. In 1975, the ethnic affairs branch (now known as the South Australian Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Commission) was established in the Department of the Premier and Cabinet.

South Australia was the first state to have an ethnic community radio station. South Australia was also one of the first Australian states to establish a government translation service, ensuring that information and services are provided in languages other than English. This is an important service, particularly in critical settings, such as courts and hospitals.

The committee heard that the overall management of the Australian migration program is the responsibility of the Australian government, which sets the number of migrant places each year. In this current year, there are 190,000 places, 5,000 more than last year. While it is possible to manage the number of visas issued each year, the number of people who actually settle here is not so easily managed. This is because people might change or delay their plans, decide to settle somewhere else or decide not to migrate at all. Some people settle here and then decide to return home or move somewhere else and, of course, New Zealand citizens freely move into and out of Australia.

The committee heard evidence that the vision for new migrants in South Australia is for them to be part of a productive, vibrant, culturally diverse state, where skills, creativity and a sense of community are highly valued. Crucial to the history and development of Australia, more than seven million people have migrated here since 1945. Today, approximately a quarter of the Australian population was born overseas and almost half the population is a migrant, or a child of a migrant.

Statistics from the most recent census in 2011 indicate that approximately 350,000 South Australians were born overseas. They came from approximately 200 countries, which certainly makes South Australia a culturally diverse community. The committee was told that in the last 10 years more than 100,000 new migrants have settled in South Australia. Over the same period of time, the number of permanent migrant additions has risen by more than 200 per cent.

The make-up of the migrant population in South Australia is similar to the national average. The 10 main source countries for new migrants between the years 2006 and 2010 were India, England, China, the Philippines, Malaysia, South Africa, New Zealand, Afghanistan, Korea and Vietnam. The committee noted that the United Kingdom, India and China accounted for 45 per cent of all new migrants who have settled here in the past few years.

South Australia's new migrants are mostly young, in their prime working age of 25 to 44. The largest cohort is the 25 to 34-year-old group; in 2009-10, there were a little over 5,000 new migrants to South Australia in this age range. Two years later, however, in 2011-12, the number had dropped slightly by a total of 84 people. I should add that overseas students are not included in these figures.

The committee was interested to know the types of visas granted to new migrants. Of the 12,000 permanent migrant additions in 2010-11 to South Australia's population, 7,116 people entered as skilled migrants, 2,581 people entered as family migrants, and 1,386 people entered as humanitarian migrants. The committee heard that since the 2006 census more than 66,000 new migrants have settled in South Australia. A total of 64 per cent entered under the skilled visa stream, 22 per cent entered under the family visa stream, and 14 per cent were granted a humanitarian visa.

In recent years, South Australia has attracted more skilled migrants per capita than other Australian states and territories. In 2009, close to 30 per cent of new migrants to South Australia were skilled migrants; this compared with Western Australia at 20 per cent, Victoria at 15 per cent and New South Wales at 13 per cent. Whilst the majority of migrants who settle here are skilled migrants, the committee was told that South Australia competes much more for skilled migrants than it ever has in the past, not only with European countries and America but also with Asia, which is fast becoming a focus of contemporary migration.

In recent years, our comparative advantage in attracting migrants has been affected by factors including the high value of the Australian dollar, the internationalisation of labour markets, globalisation, and the exchange of skilled workers between nations. The most recent figures obtained from Multicultural SA by the committee indicated a drop in skilled migrant numbers. In view of this, the committee noted the significance of the state specific and regional migration scheme in continuing to attract new migrants to settle here rather than in the large cities interstate.

This scheme assists government and industry in South Australia to address local skills shortages and attracts overseas businesspeople here to establish new and joint ventures. It enables both the South Australian government and regional employers to fill skill shortages that cannot be filled from the local labour pool. South Australia accounts for one in six of the total number of migrants who enter Australia under this scheme.

In comparison to other Australian states and territories, South Australia has a large number of humanitarian settlers. Between the 2006 and 2011 censuses, 14 per cent of all new migrants who settled in South Australia came here as humanitarian entrants, which compares with 8 per cent at the national level. A total of 2,250 people settled here from Afghanistan, representing 18 per cent of the national total of humanitarian entrants and proximate to the number of Afghani people who settled in New South Wales over the same period.

The committee heard that almost 2,000 humanitarian entrants arrived in South Australia in 2011-12. Other than people from Afghanistan, they mostly came from Bhutan, Burma, Iran, Eritrea, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It really goes without saying that humanitarian entrants do not choose to leave their homeland. They do not plan their migration; rather, they are forced to flee after suffering terrors such as trauma and torture, and hardships including leaving family and friends behind. Often their experience is to live for many years in refugee camps before eventually being resettled here.

In 2011-12 almost 2,700 migrants settled here on family visas, mostly from China, the Philippines and India. In June 2011 there were more than 20,000 overseas students residing in South Australia. This is a little over 2,000 less than the previous year. They came mostly from China, India, Malaysia, South Korea, Vietnam and Saudi Arabia. In the first six months of 2012 the number of overseas students from Saudi Arabia increased more than 12.5 per cent.

South Australia has been a popular destination for overseas students in recent years, and they have made a significant contribution to the local economy. The committee heard that students are attracted here because we have a reputation as a provider of quality education. The committee also heard that increasing competition from overseas jurisdictions, the value of the Australian dollar and the length of time sometimes required for visa approvals have possibly contributed to the recent drop in numbers.

In June 2011 there were 4,500 temporary visa holders in South Australia on a 457 visa. The committee was informed that South Australia does not attract significant numbers of 457 visa holders compared to other Australian states. The net overseas migration figures represent the net gain or loss of population through immigration to Australia and emigration from Australia. These figures include both permanent and temporary migrants.

All Australian states and territories experienced positive net overseas migration figures in 2010. However, in South Australia this was the main measure of population growth, at 76 per cent. We were ahead of New South Wales at 60 per cent, Victoria at 57 per cent and Western Australia at 53 per cent. Meanwhile, net interstate migration saw 3,200 people move elsewhere. In line with the national trend, and although net overseas migration numbers have slowed in recent years, this is still the most important contributor to the state's population growth. According to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, the drop in numbers is due mostly to a low inflow and larger outflow of overseas students.

The committee was interested to know about the overall social and economic impact of new migrants in South Australia. It was told that the long-term success of South Australia's migration programs can be measured by the social, economic and cultural benefits that migrants bring to the community. The committee heard that migrants contribute to the social and economic structure of South Australia by enriching and diversifying the cultural fabric of the community. They support stronger economic growth by providing growing markets for business, investing in the South Australian economy, and fostering international trade through their knowledge of overseas markets.

With the arrival of business migrants, new technologies are often introduced into the economy. Employment and skills shortages are alleviated with the arrival of skilled migrants, who assist in mitigating the negative effects of an ageing population and the consequent decline in workforce participation. As the labour force contracts due to the ageing of the South Australian community, the need to stimulate labour supply through migration, so as to support a growing number of retirees, will become a more pressing need.

Migrants have an impact on the demand side of the South Australian economy through their individual spending on consumer items such as food, housing and leisure activities. They create business opportunities through investment to produce extra goods and services, and they influence expansion of government services in areas such as health, education and welfare. Migrants also have an impact on the supply side of the economy by introducing labour, skills and capital into the state, by developing new businesses and, as I have noted, adding productive diversity through their knowledge of international business markets.

There are some within the community who express concern that multiculturalism has given undue emphasis to the maintenance of cultural differences and the interests of individual groups, rather than the promotion and acceptance of the Australian way of life. These people perhaps fear that multiculturalism promotes divisions or that migrants have rights and privileges that are not available to other South Australians. Community education helps to dispel such views and reinforce the fact that multiculturalism does not provide special privileges to certain groups. In fact, eligibility for services is based on need and subject to eligibility guidelines.

Communicating about the positive impacts of migration is critical to how migrants are received in the community. Evidence based information and positive examples of migrant communities and individuals in South Australia become more important as the diversity of migrant communities increases. A society that has a diversity of skills and experience is better placed to stimulate economic growth, and migration is a key factor to enable this to occur.

Migration is one of the significant avenues through which the exchange of skills, culture and language can enhance the very fabric of a community, but it can be highly politicised and sometimes negatively perceived, even though international migration is likely to increase in scale and complexity due to growing demographic disparities, new global and political dynamics, technological revolutions and social networks. Such factors can impact profoundly on the socioeconomic and ethnic composition of societies. Obviously, new policy challenges related to the successful integration of migrants into the South Australian community then arise for governments, industry and the community at large.

The manner in which the image of new migrants is portrayed is of fundamental importance to their level of integration and adjustments to life in South Australia. The committee heard from a local migration agent that some of the significant factors for migrants choosing to relocate here include the stability of the South Australian economy and political climate, the affordable cost of living, and relatively affordable housing prices compared to some other Australian states and territories. South Australia has well planned infrastructure and the education system is highly regarded.

The inquiry revealed that people generally perceive that South Australia has a quieter lifestyle and is a good place in which to raise a family. As the costs in the bigger Australian cities rise, there are opportunities for South Australia to take advantage of the lifestyle and relatively low cost of living. Education Adelaide, in its annual report for 2011-12, commented on a study which measured food, rent, clothing, transport and utilities, and it confirmed that in terms of cost of living, Adelaide was the most cost effective Australian city. Living costs in Adelaide were 24 per cent lower than Sydney, 25 per cent lower than Melbourne, 11 per cent lower than Perth and 10 per cent lower than Brisbane.

The committee heard from government and non-government agencies and most importantly from new migrants themselves that their experience of the services and support provided to help them settle in to their new lives in South Australia was overwhelmingly positive. The major barriers were in learning the new language and in finding suitable employment. This was less the case for skilled migrants and obviously more of an issue for humanitarian entrants.

Overall, the committee heard evidence that South Australia is a welcoming place for new migrants. This is heartening, but to its credit the committee has put forward a total of 40 recommendations that will strengthen and enhance the current service system that supports our new migrants. I commend the work of the committee and its final report and once again thank all those committed to the good and positive endeavours the report so clearly evidences.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. J.S. Lee.

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