Migrants add to biggest growth spurt in 20 years - Australia
20/3/08
Australia’s population is growing at its fastest rate in almost 20 years, with imports of skilled workers lifting net migration to a record 179,122 people in the year to September. The Bureau of Statistics reports that the population grew by 318,500 in the year to September, to 21,097,148. The increase of 1.53% was its fastest rate of growth since the last boom ended in 1989. The Government has flung Australia’s doors open for would-be migrants or temporary workers with skills in areas of labour shortage. But their arrival has exacerbated the nation’s housing shortage.