Migrant push 'a recipe for disaster' - Nelson

23/08/2008

"... Rudd is bringing in a massive surge ... at the same time as jobs are disappearing, a recipe for disaster." The Government announced a 20per cent increase in migration numbers in the budget, from 159,000 in 2007-08 to an estimated 190,300 in 2008-09, in order to deal with chronic labour shortages and wages inflation pressure.

The budget also forecast an increase in the unemployment rate from 4.3 per cent to 4.75 per cent a rise of more than 100,000 people, the Opposition claims...

"Why is it beyond the wit in this country, when we've got half a million people still unemployed, that we have to bring in people from Pacific island nations to do this work?" Mr Nelson asked yesterday...

Coalition figures point to Britain as an example of government mismanagement of an immigration program leading to a loss of public confidence in the system and an upsurge in racial problems.