Immigration Minister Tony Burke asserts that Australia relies heavily on migrants to sustain its health system and construction sector amid ongoing housing challenges.
Essential Roles in Key Sectors
Burke highlights that half of Australia’s doctors and registered nurses, along with about a quarter of tradespeople needed for home building, were born overseas. He emphasizes that the nation’s economic strength depends on a targeted immigration program.
“So effectively we can’t run our health system or build the houses we need without immigration,” Burke stated during a recent podcast appearance. He notes that demand for skilled immigrants aligns with growth in Australia’s Indian community.
Population Statistics
The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that 8.8 million people born overseas lived in Australia as of June 30 last year. For the first time, Indian-born residents form the largest group among the overseas-born population, surpassing those from England, China, and New Zealand.
Burke stresses the dual need for migrant skills and improved infrastructure. “Two things are true. The first is that economically we need immigration. We need the skills, we need the people. And culturally we’re stronger because of it,” he said. “But secondly, we also need to make sure that the infrastructure and services are keeping pace as well.”
He argues that selecting the right immigrants contributes to solutions rather than problems, while cautioning against unlimited inflows that strain housing and services.
Political Debate
Burke defends large citizenship ceremonies in early 2025 as “the most patriotic events you can have.” He criticizes Opposition Leader Angus Taylor for narratives that blame immigrants and target the Indian community, calling them “ugly.”
The Coalition pushes for reduced immigration. Taylor describes current levels as “out of control” under the Labor government and proposes the Australian Values Migration Plan. This plan enforces compliance with the Australian Values Statement as a legal condition for all visa holders, aiming to cut arrivals and raise standards.
Global Context
Australia boasts a 30.1 percent foreign-born population share, exceeding the United Kingdom, United States, and Canada. United Nations 2024 data shows 304 million people—or 3.07 percent of the global population—living outside their birth country.
This positions Australia among advanced economies with the highest migrant proportions, ahead of Switzerland (28.8 percent), New Zealand (28.2 percent), and others.
