Tony Burke claims Australia isn’t a mass migration nation. Here’s the data his critics say proves otherwise: PETER VAN ONSELEN
Immigration Minister Tony Burke has rejected the description of Australia as a “mass migration” nation, but columnist Peter van Onselen argues that population growth and migration figures support the term. The article says Australia’s population reached 28 million in June, far exceeding earlier projections, highlighting the pressure rapid growth may place on housing and infrastructure.
It cites Australian Bureau of Statistics projections from 1998, which estimated a population of 23.5–26.4 million by 2051, and notes that the country surpassed 28 million 25 years earlier than the highest estimate. The article also says Australia’s population grew by about 45% between 2000 and 2025, compared with roughly 17% across the OECD, while net overseas migration was 292,000 in the year to March—more than three times the annual “high” assumption used in the earlier projections.
- Australia’s population has outpaced earlier forecasts by a substantial margin.
- Net overseas migration remains historically high.
- Burke disputes the “mass migration” label, while critics cite population data.