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发表于 16-3-2009 14:04:35
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Migrant cuts tipped to ease housing
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/03/16/2516982.htm
AMP Capital economist Shane Oliver says the housing shortage has been a function of high immigration. (ABC News: Giulio Saggin, file photos)
A leading economist says the Federal Government's decision to reduce Australia's skilled migrant intake should help ease significant housing shortages, especially in Sydney and Melbourne.
The Permanent Migration program will be cut by 14 per cent to 115,000 people this financial year in response to Australia's rising unemployment rate and the broader global financial crisis.
Immigration Minister Chris Evans announced this morning there will be a massive slowing in the permanent migration program.
AMP Capital chief economist Shane Oliver says migration levels play a key role in the overall demand for housing in the economy.
"Australia, over the last few years, has had a shortage of housing and that's partly been a function of very high immigration levels," he said.
"Now that we're cutting back on the immigration level, naturally it will cut back the demand for housing.
"Therefore it will tend to reduce, to some degree, that shortage of housing that's been an issue over the last few years."
Mr Oliver says while the cutback is fairly modest, it still means there will be 18,000 fewer people needing a home.
"That would translate to demand for about 6,000 to 7,000 houses or dwellings," he said.
"Of course when people first enter the country, their first inclination is to rent. Over the next few years they might settle down and buy or build a house.
"But initially, it'll be the rental market that will be affected by this and that could help take some of the upwards pressure off rents."
Proceed with caution
Nationals Senator Barnaby Joyce says the Federal Government needs to be careful about how it decides to cut the skilled migrant intake.
The Government had planned to accept more than 130,000 migrants this financial year.
Despite the reduction, this year's intake is still expected to be above last year's total.
Senator Joyce says he is cautiously in favour of the move.
"In areas such as abattoirs, where we still have troubles trying to fill the full production line of people - if we take away 30 per cent of the production line, you end up closing the whole production line down," he said.
"So we have to go about this one carefully, otherwise we'll actually be putting Australians out of work."
Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull says the Government should act to cut further if unemployment worsens.
"We've been calling for the Government to cut its immigration intake for months now in light of the worsening economic situation so this is a welcome move," he said.
"It's good that they've finally recognised the gravity to the threats to jobs in Australia and acted to reduce the immigration intake."
Striking a balance
The peak body representing small business says it trusts the Federal Government has closely examined Australia's skilled migration figures before deciding to make cuts.
Council of Small Business of Australia chief executive Jaye Radisich says the economy has to be put in the best possible position to withstand the worldwide economic downturn.
"Small business certainly has relied on skilled migrants to provide a lot of skills in various industries to supplement the lack of education and training we've had in some areas," she said.
"[But] we do have to balance off the fact that our unemployment rate has risen by over 50,000 people in the last month."
Tags: business-economics-and-finance, building-and-construction, immigration , unemployment, federal-government, international-financial-crisis, australia |
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发表于 13-3-2009 13:48:47
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