CFMEU Submission - Planning the 2016-17 Migration Program

The CFMEU recognises the economic and social contribution migrants have made, and continue to make, to our country. We could not have achieved the society we have today without the invaluable contribution of migrants to our workforce, our culture, our economy and our union. Australia is a country of migrants, with a quarter of Australia’s population born overseas and over 40 per cent of people having at least one overseas born parent. Overseas migration contributes to more than half of Australia’s population growth.

Australia’s migration program has shifted from a policy based program, designed to meet the medium to long term national interest, to a demand driven program based on the needs of employers. While demand based systems serve the interests of employers, they do not adequately reflect the interests of the public, foreign workers, or local workers.

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