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Keep out Kiwis, says Labor MP Thomson

AAP November 12, 2009, 10:58 am

Australia should shut the door to thousands of New Zealanders to help stabilise the nation's population at 26 million by 2050, federal Labor backbencher Kelvin Thomson says.

Migration from New Zealand is uncapped and the number of Kiwis permanently settling has jumped from 16,400 in 2002-03 to 47,800 last financial year.

Mr Thomson says if Australia is to avoid an "environmental disaster", net overseas migration needs to be slashed from 213,500 to 70,000 a year.

In particular, the trans-Tasman travel arrangement with New Zealand would need to be renegotiated to do away with "the open door", he said in a speech to a community group in Melbourne on Wednesday.

Instead, New Zealanders should be offered places made available when people leave Australia to live elsewhere.

Mr Thomson says population growth in Australia is now a "runaway train".

Official projections show the country having 35 million people by 2050, which is unsustainable, he said.

Stabilising the population at 26 million would address "the declining quality of life in our cities, the traffic congestion and the disappearing backyards and open spaces".

Mr Thomson also wants to cut the skilled migration and family reunion programs, allowing Australia to boost its refugee intake from 13,750 to 20,000 a year.

The baby bonus should be abolished and family benefit payments restricted to just two children per family, he said.

The savings made would allow Australia to invest more in skills and training domestically, and increase foreign aid "to enable us to be compassionate, decent international citizens".

Mr Thomson has delivered several speeches in recent months rejecting Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's assertion that population growth is good for Australia and the economic prosperity of the nation.

He has called for the rolling back of laws that allow international students to apply from Australia for a skilled permanent residence visa within six months of completing their course.

More controversially, in August he said the country's migration intake should be slashed so authorities could run more rigorous security checks on applicants.

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597 Comments

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Jae 03:54pm Friday 11th December 2009 EST Report Abuse
Aussie are lazy thats why we come here from n z kelvin Thomson forgets to mention that
TIM 10:37am Tuesday 17th November 2009 EST Report Abuse
australia is an island of immigrants....bring them all out here. plenty of room for them!!! you started all this aust government...keep going....you will anyway!
Iroam 11:22am Saturday 14th November 2009 EST Report Abuse
To Bradhleah, I am one of those kiwis with nz stickers on my car... I do not slag off about Aussies, in fact I am proud to say that my Aussie mates are some of the best people going. I feel sorry for those that do slag off about Aussies because I feel they are missing out. I firmly believe in the sa ...
Mazza 03:44pm Friday 13th November 2009 EST Report Abuse
Ah all this rhetoric is stifled in bigoted views of patriotism. Just because kiwis are also anglo you people want to give them special treatment. Sure the open door policy has existed for a long time and in fact New Zealand almost took Tasmania when federation was being formed 1901. But seriously yo ...
Darryl 12:33pm Friday 13th November 2009 EST Report Abuse
When are you going to put some details about yourself on your site. Or, become a contact so we can share views on other subjects.
Peter 07:13am Friday 13th November 2009 EST Report Abuse
does anybody no if the MPs read our views or r they too far up themselves
Peter 07:06am Friday 13th November 2009 EST Report Abuse
we have a halfwit runing our country .. the kiwis are o k
Monicque 07:01am Friday 13th November 2009 EST Report Abuse
I have never heard anything so ridiculous!! You want to cut SKILLED migrants who actually help this country's economy to increase REFUGEES??? Logic should tell you rather easily which group would cost the country less!! Kiwis ARE willing to work hard to be in Australia - refugees simply get ...
Sash 06:43am Friday 13th November 2009 EST Report Abuse
In my opinion it’s about Australia not about kiwis or Chinese or Indian ….. We should respect the decision what’s best the country. If immigration needs to be stopped it should be for everyone and yes now is the right time to make a decision for the best of Australia. “Population needs to be ...
Sash 06:43am Friday 13th November 2009 EST Report Abuse
In my opinion it’s about Australia not about kiwis or Chinese or Indian ….. We should respect the decision what’s best the country. If immigration needs to be stopped it should be for everyone and yes now is the right time to make a decision for the best of Australia. “Population needs to be ...