Economic effects An increased population also means a greater demand for goods and services, which stimulates the economy. Migrants need food, housing, education and health services, and their taxes and spending allow businesses to expand. Apart from labour and capital (money), migrants also bring many skills to Australia. Significant numbers of migrants come as skilled migrants, meaning they have in-demand qualifications or professions (see FIGURE 8 ). Migrants generate more in taxes than they consume in benefits and government goods and services. As a result, migrants as a whole contribute more financially than they take from society.
FIGURE8 Visa types for migrants to Australia, 2013–24
80%
200000
180000
70%
160000
60%
140000
50%
120000
40%
100000
80000
30%
60000
20%
40000
10%
20000
0%
2013−14 2014−15 2015−16 2016−17 2017−18 2018−19 2019−20 2020−21 2021−22 2022−23 2023−24 0
Skilled
Child
Family
Special eligibility
Visa types:
% family visas
% skilled visas Source: Department of Immigration
Environmental effects In the past, people argued that immigrants put pressures on Australia’s environment and resources by increasing our population and water, energy and other requirements. However, today many people believe that Australia’s environmental problems are not caused by migration and population increase, but by inadequate planning and management. 15.3 SkillBuilder activity GEOGRAPHICAL INQUIRY 1. Refer to FIGURE1 and write the top ten destination countries and the top ten origin countries (note any countries that appear on both lists). 2. Select one colour to represent the destination countries. 3. Select a different colour to represent the origin countries. 4. Select a third colour for any country that appears on both lists. 5. On a blank map of the world (ideally A3 in size), use your chosen colours and highlight the countries from your list. Use a political map in an atlas to assist you in locating each country.
432 Jacaranda Humanities Alive 8 Victorian Curriculum Third Edition
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