Federal Government
THE SILVER BULLET: Abbott considers immigration slash to cut carbon
Tony Abbott is contemplating a war on immigration that would wrong-foot the Rudd government and potentially attract preferences from anti-immigration fringe parties like One Nation and the Greens political party.
Greens party Senator Bob Brown has already come out swinging on the issue:
"We’re at record high immigration and it’s got to be reviewed.
"I think immigration levels should settle down much lower than they are at the moment…”
Senator Brown criticised the amount of skilled migrants.
"You can buy your way into this country if you’re rich or you’re highly skilled."
His position is somewhat ridiculous. He’s for ‘humanitarian’ or asylum seeker immigration but against skilled immigration and family reunion. Family reunion visas bring the best part of a hundred thousand people a year. Not the most compassionate position for the Greens to take, but their enviro-ideology can sometimes lead them into the back-side of some very dark caves.
Conservatives within Tony Abbott’s circle of trust are advocating a plan that would cut immigration from a current net 180,000 to around 30,000 that they say could also cut Australia’s carbon emissions by the much-discussed target of 5%. The cute aspect of this policy is that it would appear to cost the government nothing. No great big green tax. No mega-tax. Zip.
Political insiders say that outside inner-city Melbourne and Sydney that clamping down on immigration is a huge vote-winner. While this makes Bob Brown’s position rather curious given that his vote mostly comes from inner-city Melbourne and Sydney, it potentially spells huge opportunity for Abbott if managed carefully.
The UK Conservatives have already gone down this path.
And the trend in the immigration debate is clearly shifting away from traditional bi-partisan support for the immigration programme to having a fully-fledged debate on the size of the country.
We’d concede it is a political minefield.
But it’s also true Australia would have all the economic sophistication of Argentina if it hadn’t been for immigration.
And it’s also true that for every angry-for-no-reason gang member in Sydney’s west (and most of them were actually born here anyway) there’s a hundred immigrants from the late and great Richard Pratt through to the most recent arrival from the Horn of Africa who are determined to make a success of their great journey from misery to this land of opportunity.
And their success becomes our success.
We wonder why we our great exporters – outside of mining and agriculture – are so few. One of many reasons is our lack of domestic market scale. It holds us back.
Cutting back on immigration is something we must very carefully consider. Those keen on having the debate are not doing the wrong thing. It’s not racist to want less immigration. But it could very easily be argued to be bad economics.
We are blessed with a great place to live. The envy of the world. The object of the desires of many who want to make a better life.
The self-evident truth that those people will always tend to be the best and brightest, the most adventurous, the most committed to success and most resourceful should not be ignored in that debate.
A big immigration programme has been an important part of our history and it will inevitably be part of our future too. But those who say so need to listen carefully to the reasoned arguments on the other side – not write them off as Hansonites – and ensure that when we invite people to stay in Australia that – like a good host – we can provide everything we should.
Immigration is probably going to be the biggest and toughest call Tony Abbott will make as Leader. Much tougher than the CPRS no-brainer. Rudd has already nailed his colours to the immigration mast. If Abbott has the courage to call him on it, it will make for a very interesting 2010 election.
Discussion
39 comments for “THE SILVER BULLET: Abbott considers immigration slash to cut carbon”
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Why am I not surprised. If you have no policies -run a scare campaign. They all do it and it’s sickening.
Bob Brown and the Greens are moving more and more to the fringes of society. A home for anyone outside of the mainstream of Australian society. If they gain more votes what does that tell you about where we are going with our egalitarian society.
You are right dear Stephen. The Greens supporter base is so wide and so diverse in its views that they cannot and dare not have clear and articulated policies because the fringe would desert them. Plus Bob would not like his supporter base to disagree with him.
No ones sure what policies I support any more. They don’t even know whether I’m right or left.
Policies aren’t important these days anyway it’s more about charisma and rugged good looks.
Alex Hork you need to update your bifocals. How can a jerk running around in torn underpants in public places possibly be confused with rugged good looks.
Simon Fontana and Ben Blackburn are the sexiest boys in the young libs. So back away bitches. these two babes are mine
Stephen O’Shea, whats wrong with a good scare campaign?
Abbott just moved one step closer to becoming Mark Latham today. Flakiest policy ever. What a bunch of stooges – Hockey, Hunt, Joyce, Abbott, Truss. It is pretty clear these twits had their paws all over it, with minimal advice from anyone with any policy experience. They don’t bat very deep after Howard, Costello, et al. Thankfully they will get their arse kicked at the election.
“But it’s also true Australia would have all the economic sophistication of Argentina if it hadn’t been for immigration”- that’s a half truth: immigration was a vital part of a whole ‘national development’ plan: power, water, investment, manufacturing, manpower, etc. Under current abysmal ‘[non]national development’, our current migration rates are “political”, not rational. Cui bono? [And don't tell me we do it altruistically]
Secret Admirer = Marie Ficarra
Bob Brown has said immigration levels should be reviewed: the government reviews it every year as a matter of course.
He says it should ’settle down’ in future at a lower level: since last year was the record recent year for immigration, that’s hardly saying anything either.
What’s extreme about what he’s said?
‘And it’s also true that for every angry-for-no-reason gang member in Sydney’s west (and most of them were actually born here anyway) there’s a hundred immigrants from the late and great Richard Pratt through to the most recent arrival from the Horn of Africa who are determined to make a success of their great journey from misery to this land of opportunity.’
Fantastic call.
Get your hands off them Marie. THEY’RE MINE!!!
Reducing immigration will be a very popular policy while economic conditions deteriorate – business lending in terminal decline, job ads down, government debt stimulus wearing off, etc. I has to be a no-brainer for the Libs to adopt this as policy given Rudd’s love of a ‘big Australia’.
blackburn and fagtana might be good looking guys however they have two things in common A) a massive ego and B) a failure to contribute
Why does nobody call me any more?
“fagtana” yet more evidnece that the talis are all big homophobes.
If the liberals are ever going to win again we need to recoginise that the world has changed and that gays are people too, and should not have their lifestyles brnaned as bad for them or helping spread STDs.
We have plenty of good gay people in the liberal party who make great contributions to the party Trent Zimmermann and Don Harwin arejust 2 examples.
Get with the 21st century talis.
Ah jesus Alex, you promised. Where do I go from here?????
Miles, Berger and Chan.
Did anyone watch Seven-Thirty Report on ABC tonight?
At first I thought Kerry O’Brien was being far too partisan, but the more he pressed the more Tony wriggled around his beliefs and policies on climate change.
I’m no fan of Lying Climate Alarmism. The flood of lies being exposed on a weekly basis – temperature fiddling, glacier lies, Amazonian rainforest lies, etc – just reinforces my view that LCA is nothing more than a scam by the greedy and stupid.
But what is Tony’s stance? Did he or did he not mean what he said in Beaufort last year?
Tony, if you want to keep your job and have ANY chance of winning the next election, you’d better make sure that the only balls you’re showing are not in your Speedos.
seems Scott’s ambitions for Drummoyne have been harpooned.
DO YOU INCLUDE BOAT PEOPLE IN THE IMMIGRATION DEBATE ? I JUST WONDER WHY THEY ARE ALLOWED IN WHEN TO MY MIND THEY SHOULD BE STAYING AND FIGHTING FOR THEIR COUNTRY.. OUR BOYS ARE THERE (AFGHASTAN) SO WHY NOT ANY HEALTHY YOUNG AFGHANI MALE. ALSO WONDER WHERE THEY FIND ALL THE HOUSING FOR THEM AS THEY ARE MOVED OFF XMAS ISLAND WHEN WE HAVE SO MANY OF OUR OWN WHO CAN’T FIND SOMEWHERE TO LIVE.
ALSO THE IMMIGRANTS OF THE PAST WORKED AND DID IT HARD AND DIDN’T GET THE BENEFITS THEY GET TODAY.
I’VE NEVER BEEN RACIST AND HAVE ENJOYED THE BENEFITS OF THE RICHNESS WE HAVE RECEIVED IN THE PAST FROM IMMIGRANTS. I THINK WE SHOULD BE MORE SELECTIVE IN WHO COMES TO THIS COUNTRY AND CERTAINLY NOT TROUBLE MAKERS OR RACES WHO DO NOT GET ALONG.
WE ARE BECOMING A LAUGHING STOCK AND RUDD HAS JUST ABOUT DESTROYED WHAT WE HAD. I DON’T SEE THIS PLACE AS THE BEST PLACE IN THE WORLD ANYMORE. ITS GETTING TO BE AN EMBARRASSMENT .
A LITTLE VILLAGE IN FRANCE SOUNDS GOOD TO ME
BUT GO FOR IT TONY .. ENJOYED THE DEBACLE IN PARLIAMENT TODAY.. AND DONT LET KERRY O’BRIEN GET TO YOU.
2 wongs have never made a white – glad to see our policies are being considered.
Farlow will be the candidate.
What a B/S article.
If any one is interested in the unchallenged modeling showing the economic benefits of Migration please have a look at the arguments and tables on my website. http://www.danbymp.com/index.php?article=440
Whether you are for or against immigration, all can agree the current levels are crazy and unsustainable. I think Tony Abbott is on a winner here.
citizen = mark lewis as always
Facts of life. Warren Hudson is ugly and mildly retarded.
Andrew Bolt = Lunatic dishonest far right wing League of Nations supporter, hopefully he meets a tragic death soon.
Abbott is having a bob each way on this.
He has told big biz he will keep 180,000 rolling in to keep the cheaper labor coming while giving every red neck in the country permission to vent their venom about ‘ethnic gangs’ etc.
The trouble with this strategy is side players like family first can reap the benefits – and then it comes down to preference deals.
With both parties promising high migration – minor parties are free to deal where they like on a state by state basis.
Whatever the case the libs dividend in Victoria will be Bye Bye Feeney.
Maybe the HSU will hire this political refugee.
Ray Williams is the smartest man I have ever met.
I wasn’t aware that when I bought Johnson and Johnson shares I was actually buying into the Hawke-Campbell Baby Oil faction.
I want my money back.
Tony, don’t you know who I am?
I am Alex Honk future PM of Australia. Nobody tells me what to do, even if I tear apart the Liberal Party in the process.
http://www.smh.com.au/national/abbott-unable-to-rein-in-hawke-20100203-ndj6.html
Cutting immigration is what just about everyone wants except for the global socialists. We can train people here where skills shortages exist. The east coast capitals are crammed and congested. This will also stop future emission increases. Let’s stop it now.
Settle down boys and girls if you really want the Liberal/Nats to take Government next year in NSW.
Both Clarke & Hawke have a lot to answer for with regard to past history including the demise of Brogden.
If the Liberal Party doesn’t wish to take Government in 2011 then let this duo continue to publicly have their famly fights. After all didn’t Clarke teach Hawke, his former staffer,the tricks of the trade as to how to play the game of branch stacking?
Clarke has been a member of the NSW MLC for 8 years(?)and has done nothing at tax payers expense other than manipulate Liberal Party branch stacking. What has he done for NSW? The same can be said for Hawke who will just sit in Canberra and will do nothing because no Leader in their right mind should give him responsibilty.
Just ask Alan Jones.
Congratulations on setting your wedding date Alex! Now you can be just like me!!!
Tony you can’t possibly cut immigration. I am a Libertarian and I believe in that Jew Ayn Rand’s ravings of self indulgence, Capitalism, usury and being disingenuous.
I will need all the new immigrants who have never heard of me, because anyone who has heard of me, no longer believes my stories. Maybe I can tell all the new comers that I can give them top paying positions as Political staffers or maybe jobs on the Johnson and Johnson board as 3 rd world users of Tampons. Tony I beg of you please follow in the great leadership of the USA and say – ‘send us the retched refuse of your putrid shores’.
I can give you a seat in Parliament if you only could believe me.
Don’t take any notice of – beware of Greeks bearing gifts.
We all know incompetant state governments are incapable of expanding services at the war time mobilisation rates required to meet the demand this un-voted for immigration surge requires. That is why living standards are taking a sudden dramatic plummet. All your theory about the economic value of immigration matters nought to those who can’t get on a train, are gridlocked in traffic and are being endlessly told of the coming shortages in everything and associated price rises. This does not equate to making the country great but ruining what made it great. A fair standard of living. Housing crisis anyone ?