Tony Burke's push to convert up to 3 million temporary visa holders to permanent resident status undermines ecological limits, liveability, and quality of life for all Australians.
Sustainable Population Australia
Sustainable Population Australia (SPA) expresses grave concern over comments by Immigration Minister Tony Burke in an Indian Link Media podcast, advocated for a pathway to full permanent residency and citizenship pathway for people who “are still here” and “working here”.
SPA maintains:
- Immigration creates more demand for goods and services than the labour it brings can meet.
- It should not be a surprise that first generation immigrants have occupations in proportion to their representation throughout the community, when they account for 38 per cent of Australia’s working age residents and 32 per cent of its entire population.
- People born overseas are not proportionately building houses for migrants, who are dramatically underrepresented in Australia’s construction industry.
- Australia has never had as many homes. The present housing crisis results from a population crisis which has been building since 2005.
- Immigration is clearly a problem, masquerading as a solution to housing and skill shortages.
SPA calls on the Government to:
- Reduce temporary visa offerings with the aim of a stable and long-term sustainable population, rather than defaulting to permanent residency for long-term temporary holders.
- Set a low NOM target consistent with ecological limits — SPA recommends around 70,000 per year long-term.
- Prioritise genuine skill needs with employer sponsorship while avoiding permanent population inflation.
- Respect public opinion, which consistently shows most Australians favour lower overall immigration levels until infrastructure and housing catch up.
SPA experts are available for further comment
Peter Strachan – Sustainable Population Australia, National President
0412 400 952 [email protected]
Available for further comment from 06:30am AWST
Quotes attributable to Mr Strachan:
“Temporary visa holder numbers hit 2.97 million in March 2026, including large numbers of people on student and bridging visas. Conversion to permanent status risks a massive one-off surge in Australia’s population.”
“SPA has long advocated stabilising Australia’s population below 30 million to protect its fragile environment, biodiversity, water resources, carbon sinks, and quality of life on the world’s driest inhabited continent. Australia’s Estimated Resident Population (ERP) as of mid-2025 is approximately 27.6 million and forecast to pass 28 million in 2026.”
“Conversion of temporary visas to permanent would do nothing to reduce pressure on housing, hospitals, aged care, schools, water supplies, emissions, and remaining natural habitats.”
“Minister Burke acknowledges a housing crisis, while annual immigration numbers at three times the average level over the decades prior to 2005 worsen housing scarcity.”
Dr Michael Seebeck – SPA Spokesperson
0439 736 001 [email protected]
Quotes attributable to Dr Seebeck:
“SPA agrees Australia needs targeted skills in key areas, but turning a large temporary population of mostly unskilled people and their families into permanent residents is not an answer.”
“Claims that immigration is essential to “build the houses” are contradicted by the small fraction of skilled migrants that work in construction trades over, while rapid population growth itself drives much of the demand.”
“Burke’s recent remarks appear to differ in tone from what is presented to the broader Australian public. Australians deserve transparent debate about the scale and composition of migration, not narratives that pathologise concern over unsustainable growth as “blame” or division.”
“Australia cannot “immigrate” its way out of housing, infrastructure, or environmental challenges. Endless population growth on a finite continent is incompatible with sustainability. Stabilising below 30 million offers the best path to environmental protection, affordable housing, liveable cities, and a cohesive society.”
