Record Chinese visitors again: Pete Wargent

There was a slight increase in the number of permanent settlers in Australia in the year to June, according to today's ABS figures. 

 

Most come from Asia, at 58.4 per cent in the year to June.

 

Only 410 Brit settlers arrived in the month of June - crashing down from a record 2,560 in August 2007 to the lowest figure in the history of the data series. 

 

Not so many Kiwis are making the permanent journey across the Tasman either right now.

 

 

 

With departures up over the past year, net permanent and long term immigration fell quite sharply to +262,800, the lowest figure since March 2007.

It's another type of casualisation. 

 

Just as there are more part time jobs these days than there used to be, there are more part time migrants!

Despite the slowdown, as I explored here the headcount in Australia is probably up by more than 400,000 over the last year, including a surge in international students.

 

The lower dollar has resulted in an epic boom in short term arrivals, to yet another all-time high of 7.84 million.

And this figure is accelerating, up by 10 per cent over the past year. 

 

That said, the downward pressure impact of the lower dollar on short term departures (up to 9.67 million) may be beginning to fade. 

Most short term visitors come for holidays (3.91 million) or to visit friends and relatives (2.04 million).

 

No surprises that June saw yet another monthly record in the number of visitors from China and Hong Kong,

 

There has been a stunning 21 per cent increase in annual visitors from China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, to a record 1.54 million (a rip-snorting 13-fold increase from 1991). 

Recall that the visa rules for international students were relaxed effective 1 July, so these figures will likely accelerate in the second half of 2016.

As you were, really.

 

Fewer long term and permanent migrants to Australia - particularly from the United Kingdom and New Zealand - but record short term arrivals and ever more Chinese visitors (with more to come when the changes to student visa rules kick in as the year progresses).