So, the conservatives on TV are yelling about "mass migration" again. They are trying to confuse you with big numbers. Let's break it down using crayons.
Imagine our country is a big school. Different types of kids walk through the front gates every day. Politicians love to pretend that everyone who walks through the gate is moving in forever. That's a lie. Here is who is actually in the playground:
These kids were either born in the school or transferred here, took the big "school pledge," and are staying forever. They own their lockers.
These kids have been officially invited to stay at the school for as long as they want. They haven't taken the final pledge yet, but they live here now and pay their school fees (taxes).
They are here for a few years to learn. They pay a lot of money to the tuckshop (our economy). When they finish their classes, most of them go back home. They don't keep their lockers forever.
These are backpackers or helpers who come for a short time to help build the sandpit or pick apples. They leave when the job is done or their pass runs out.
Net Migration = (Kids walking IN the gate) MINUS (Kids walking OUT the gate).
Here is the trick the conservatives play: When Pauline Hanson or Angus Taylor scream about migration, they purposely confuse "Net Migration" with "Permanent Residents".
If an exchange student comes to Australia for 2 years to study, they are counted as a "+1" in Net Migration when they arrive. They are not buying a house. They are not staying forever. But conservative politicians point at them and yell, "Look! A permanent immigrant taking your house!"
During COVID, the school gates were locked. Nobody came in, and nobody left. When the gates opened, all the exchange kids and backpackers who were delayed came rushing in at once. This created a giant, temporary spike.
The Labor government promised to fix the post-COVID spike and bring the numbers back to normal. Are they doing it? Let's look at the actual math. (Yes, the line goes down).
The next time someone tries to tell you that "millions of people are moving here permanently to steal your house," remember the school playground.
Net migration is mostly temporary visitors going back to normal levels after a global pandemic. Don't let them treat you like a toddler.