Migration policy confusion leaves Australians on edge

Confusion and frustration dominate Australia's migration policy debate, with community advocates urging for a balanced and constructive conversation. Carmel La Rocca, president of the Multicultural Council of Griffith, expressed that "everyone is on edge and there's no harmony." The discourse intensified after a One Nation MP suggested a "rotating workforce" of 100,000, which, when combined with other policies, appeared similar to the Labor party's targets.

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There's a lot of confusion and all the community want is just a balanced, constructive conversation.

This mixed messaging drew criticism from government and opposition parties, who highlighted One Nation's inconsistencies without clarifying their own migration plans. La Rocca, from the southern New South Wales seat of Farrer, implored politicians to prioritize the nation's progress, advocating for a "skilled way" of population growth.

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Everyone is on edge and there's no harmony.

In Farrer, a region struggling with labor shortages, local winemaker Darren De Bortoli supported the idea of flexibility in migration policy, calling David Farley's contribution "common sense." However, he stressed the need for long-term pathways for regional migrants, stating, "If we've got a skill set shortage and we need to bring people in fix it... they should be allowed to stay." La Rocca dismissed the rotating workforce concept as impractical for skilled migration, arguing that long-term commitment is necessary for jobs to be done properly.

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They should look at Australia as a whole and look at Australia moving forward in a good way, in a professional way, in a skilled way, and having a good population to move it forward.