Australia sees sharp rise in migration levels

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, almost 767,000 people arrived in the year to September 2023. Combined with falling departure numbers, the net migration reached 548,000 in the same period – 60 per cent higher than the year before. Based on these trends, the total net migration will reach approximately 530,000 in the 2023-24 financial year, 215,000 more than the federal government's forecast budget. Some Sydney mayors have criticised both the state and federal governments for the lack of investment in infrastructure and unprecedented levels of migration. The state's net overseas migration increased by four times the number of homes built in 2023.