Turnbull hoses down calls for immigration review

MALCOLM Turnbull believes Australia’s immigration system is in great shape as he hosed down calls for a review of population policy.

Permanent migration is down to its lowest level in 10 years despite receiving the highest number of applications ever.

“We are able to be very picky about who comes to Australia as permanent migrants. And that’s our right, it’s our country,” Mr Turnbull told reporters yesterday.

“I see this very much as a recruiting exercise and if there is more talent available in one year than the previous year then you may take more.”

Australia accepted about 162,000 permanent migrants in 2017/18, down from about 183,000 the year before, and well below the 190,000-a-year ceiling. “We had more applications than ever so how did we achieve that? By being absolutely more fastidious and more scrupulous in ensuring that everyone who comes here is needed and is somebody we want,” Mr Turnbull said.

Liberal senator Dean Smith has written to the prime minister asking for an inquiry into population policy, which Mr Turnbull said he would con- sider in discussions with his party colleague.

Nationals deputy leader Bridget McKenzie said the skilled migration program was delivering what Australia needed.

But Labor leader Bill Shorten said 1.6 million people were in Australia on temporary visas filling skill shortages.

“This government does not want to talk about the growing problem of people coming to Australia on temporary work rights visas,” he told reporters in Tasmania.

Mr Turnbull said immigration policy had to be managed to ensure the economy was not being let down by a lack of workers.

“There are many parts of Australia where there are real skills shortages and labour shortages,” he said.