The Albanese government’s decision to delay the release of its immigration policy came down, in part, to the economic cost of slashing migration numbers. It underscores how deeply intertwined Australia’s immigration policy is with prosperity.Former Treasury secretary Martin Parkinson cautioned last week that sharp cuts to migration would drag on an already fragile economy. Parkinson, who chaired the 2023 review of Australia’s migration program, has urged the Albanese government to pivot the system towards attracting and selecting people who can contribute to Australia, rather than focusing on temporary, low-skilled workers.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Fetching latest articles