June 19, 2013
AUSTRALIA’S population has been boosted by a record migrant influx while the number of foreign students is expected to soar over the next few years.
There were 245,000 permanent migrant additions in 2011-12, almost 32,000 more than the previous year, according to the latest Immigration Department data.
Victoria had about 61,000 additions, including 20,000 who were already here and were granted permanent residency visas.
Most migrants to Victoria came from India with 9251 people, then China (8776), NZ (6548), UK (4368) and Sri Lanka (2855).
Between 2007 and 2011, 270,000 migrants settled in Victoria, with 93 per cent staying in Melbourne, said the report, Migration to Australia’s States and Territories 2011-12.
Melbourne, Greater Dandenong and Monash attracted large numbers of migrants.
A separate report shows annual net overseas migration for Australia has reached 236,700 and is expected to reach 251,000 within four years, mainly due to a projected net increase of 24,000 overseas students by June 2017.
