Australia's Immigration Revolution

In 2006 Australia's population was 20.7 million. It is projected to reach 23 million in 2014. What has driven this rapid population growth, and how has the Rudd government dealt with immigration during the first phase of the global financial crisis?

The diversification of the immigration intake over the last 50 years, from the British Isles to Europe and Asia, is widely recognised. But there is less understanding of the development of Australia's temporary program, which since 2000 is the major component of the immigration intake. Similarly, the development of the global labour market and the impact of this on immigrants have not entered Australian consciousness. The lack of attention to these developments stands in marked contrast to the heated controversies sparked by the arrival by boat of small numbers of asylum seekers.

Written by three leading researchers, with its analysis located in historical and international contexts, Australia's Immigration Revolution explains developments of national importance-including ground-breaking explorations of ethnic concentration and public opinion.

How well is Australia handling immigration at a time of increased international and ethnic tensions? Immigration and Australia's Future examines the social impact of the huge increase in Australia's immigration program over the past decade. Rates of immigration to Australia nearly doubled under Howard and have increased to record levels under Rudd. These new immigrants join the 6.5 million who have arrived in Australia since 1945 from the UK, Europe, and Asia. How well are newer immigrants faring? Are they able to readily obtain education and jobs? Are immigrants from some backgrounds doing better than others? Drawing on major surveys of social cohesion, as well as demographic and other data, Andrew Markus examines how well newer immigrants are being accepted by the wider Australian community. He shows that despite Australia's controversial asylum policies and certain incidents, actually Australia's immigration program is relatively successful by international standards.

Andrew Markus is the author of several books on race and immigration. James Jupp is director of the Center for Immigration and Multicultural Studies at the Australian National University. Peter McDonald is a professor of demography and director of the Australian Demographic and Social Research Institute, also at the Australian National University.