A prominent immigration expert warns that surging migration levels are intensifying Australia’s housing crisis, making home ownership unattainable for many young people. Dr. Bob Birrell, founding director of the Centre for Population and Urban Research, attributes the shortage to the current government’s reluctance to curb what he describes as a migration ‘tsunami,’ which now generates more drawbacks than benefits.
Migration Drives Housing Strain
Dr. Birrell highlights the profound effects of overseas migration on housing affordability. ‘We’re seeing the very serious impact of housing affordability due to overseas migration,’ he states. ‘It’s a major change in our set-up where young people can no longer assume their parents’ experience of owning a home.’
Recent shifts in migration patterns show a notable ‘Asianisation’ of arrivals. New Australian Bureau of Statistics data reveals that India now leads as the top source of overseas-born residents, with 971,020 individuals. This marks the first time people born in England no longer hold that position.
Key Population Statistics
Australia’s population stands at 27.6 million, with 8.83 million people—or 32%—born overseas. Chinese-born residents rank third at 732,000, reaching a record high. The nation now ranks eighth globally for its proportion of migrants.
Net overseas migration hit a peak of 556,000 in 2023, with projections for 306,000 in the 2024-25 financial year.
Housing Market Pressures Mount
House prices continue climbing amid demand exceeding new construction. National prices rose 1.4% in March 2026, extending a streak of 13 consecutive months of growth.
Political and Economic Factors
Pollster Kos Samaras from Redbridge notes that up to 85% of Indian communities in select regions supported Labor in the last federal election. MacroBusiness chief economist Leith van Onselen argues this gives Labor incentives to sustain high immigration and strengthen ties with India.
Dr. Birrell observes that Labor integrates multiculturalism, immigration, and open borders into its platform. ‘Migrants have bolstered the Labor vote,’ he explains. Treasury benefits from population growth through higher taxes, employers from wage suppression, and proponents of open borders view it as essential for global integration.
Yet, research from his centre indicates most voters oppose the current high-migration pace. ‘The extent of opening up borders has gone way past what’s beneficial for most Australians,’ Dr. Birrell asserts. ‘We’re now a country with massive competition for services and have a massive debt to provide all the infrastructure for these people. The benefits have swung strongly against the positives.’
Call for Policy Shift
Dr. Birrell advocates a self-reliant approach, reducing dependence on mass migration to sustain the economy. Australia’s birth rate has fallen to a record low of 1.48 children per woman, well below the 2.1 replacement level. He links this decline partly to unaffordable housing. ‘We’re very unlikely to get a restoration of the birth rate while housing for young people is unaffordable. It’s shocking,’ he says.
