I want to go back to Canberra now. We can catch up with the Shadow Immigration Minister Paul Scarr, who joins us now. Thanks for joining us, Paul. The Albanese Labor Government promised it would reduce immigration into this country, but announcing today that the permanent migration rate for the coming year will be exactly the same as last year, 185,000 people. Is that too high and at what level would the Coalition set it?
Senator Scarr
Well, I think Chris, the question is, what is a sustainable long term level? And when we’re talking about immigration, we’ve got to bear in mind, we’ve got the permanent migration intake, which is set, as you said, for this year, at 185,000, then you’ve got net overseas migration. And that net overseas. [CUT OFF]
Chris Kenny
Yeah, let me jump in for a moment. We know that’s a different figure, and in some ways the more important figure and other factors come in, how many students we let in, how many people leave, etc, exactly. But we have a rock solid figure now of 185 in permanent migration. Does the Coalition support that number, or would you suggest it needs to be lower now. And at what rate should it be now?
Senator Scarr
Well, Chris, at the last election, we took policies which provided a recalibration of our permanent migration intake for this year in the next two years, and those rates were less than what the government has announced this year for the permanent migration intake. We’re looking at our policies, and we’ll be looking to come up with a series of figures that make sense in the long term future.
Chris Kenny
What was that number for this year, and do you stand by it?
Senator Scarr
Well, the number we had was 140,000 and then increasing back to 160,000 so the question is, when you’re looking at the permanent migration intake, you’ve got to bear in mind that approximately 50% of the people who are applying for these permanent visas, or getting granted these permanent visas actually already reside in the country. So I really do think the net overseas migration figure is the most important figure when we look at it.
Chris Kenny
Sure.
Senator Scarr
This is where the government has been widely, wildly off track in terms of its forecast.
Chris Kenny
Yeah, they’ve been nowhere near, nowhere near what they promised. But you’re saying now your figure of permanent migration would be 45,000 people a year, lower than what the government announced today. You will be 140 and they’ve gone for 185.
Senator Scarr
What I’m saying is those were the policies we took to the last election.
Chris Kenny
Yeah, sure everything is up for review. [CUTTING SENATOR OFF]
Chris Kenny
Sure, sure, but let’s have a conversation in this country, the whole conversation this country have to stop for the next two years, while the Liberal Party and the NATs do a review of every policy. You’ve got to actually stand for something now. So it was 140 but apparently you’re saying you don’t know. Tell us what you say about Nauru, the government now, the Labor Government now saying it will deport criminal non citizens to Nauru. Does the Coalition support that?
Senator Scarr
We support the arrangement which has been proposed in relation to Nauru, and when we support that arrangement, we note that the federal government has made appalling mistakes in terms of the management of this NZYQ cohort, and we’ve seen a failure by the government to apply for any preventative detention orders under legislation that was passed by the parliament with the intention that we’re giving the government the power to apply for preventative detention orders, community security orders, community safety orders. And the government simply hasn’t made one single application.
Chris Kenny
At least you support the move now, but you’re not hypocritical like Labor, who have opposed Nauru all along, and now jump on board. Thanks for joining us. Paul. I appreciate it.
