...By Jack Sylva for TDPel Media.
According to Dr Liz Allen, a demographer from the Australian National University, migrants are moving to Melbourne because Sydney is perceived as a ‘more white’ city.
The move comes after Melbourne became the most populous city in the country on Monday, primarily due to the increasing number of migrants from India.
Dr Allen explained that Sydney had not been practicing multiculturalism as well as Melbourne, despite celebrating it.
She also pointed out that politicians in greater Sydney and New South Wales had made decisions that did not think strategically with the long-term in mind.
The Perception of Melbourne As More Welcoming
Dr Allen argued that Melbourne was perceived as more welcoming, with the cultural perception of being at the forefront of modern Australia.
She said that Melbourne represents contemporary Australia in terms of its celebration of diversity.
However, she pointed out that even though there is a move ‘toward celebrating diversity’, Australia’s long history of preferring Anglo-Celtic migration is still evident in popular attitudes.
She believes that Australia needs to celebrate its diversity more earnestly and recognize the contributions of migrants to the country economically and culturally.
Australia’s Need for Suitable Trained and Skilled Migrants
Australia needs ‘suitably trained and skilled migrants to help offset the consequences of an aging population.’
However, Dr Allen said that in attracting such people, Australia is competing with countries such as the US, Britain, and Canada.
The Covid pandemic period did much harm to the nation’s reputation of being migrant-friendly, and the country suffered enormous damage to brand Australia.
Dr Allen thinks Australia needs to move past that with other actions and policies to show that it is still migrant-friendly.
Debate on Immigration Goes in Cycles
Dr Allen believes that the debate on immigration goes in cycles, and although there has been bipartisan support for skilled migration for many years, politicians may want to divide the population by talking about ‘us’ and ‘them.’
Despite concerns that Australia is taking in a record number of migrants, with over 650,000 brought in over two years, Dr Allen believes that this fails to recognize the small net population increase.
