Almost 80 percent of Australians support a pathway to permanent residency for migrants who have lived and worked in Australia for several years, according to new research. 

The survey of 1000 Australians also found that 78 percent of those polled believe that people who have migrated to Australia, who are already living and working here, should have stability so that they can plan for the life they want. The survey was conducted by Essential Media Communications and commissioned by the Human Rights Law Centre with support from the Migrant Workers Centre.

This survey follows up a November 2021 Migrant Workers Centre report that found Australia’s migration regime has lost its balance, increasingly forcing long-term migrants to hop from one temporary visa to another until exhaustion.  

The Federal Government’s immigration policy of unlimited numbers of temporary visas combined with few pathways to the highly restricted permanent migration increases the risk of wage theft and worker exploitation.  

Reacting to the results, Jaspreet, a migrant living and working in Australia for over seven years on temporary visas, said: 

“I want to keep serving the Australian community with my skills as a scientist, but the uncertainty about my future is taking a toll on my psychiatric heath. The current visa system prevented me from finding another job after I faced exploitation by my employer.  

“Permanent visas would reduce exploitation and allow migrant workers to confidently perform their jobs in Australia.” 

David Burke, Legal Director at the Human Rights Law Centre said:  

“Everyone should have the chance to plan for the life they want. But the Federal Government’s visa system is keeping people in limbo and often unable to reunite with their family even when they have lived and worked here for years. These results show that people clearly recognise the injustice of policies that are leaving their neighbours, colleagues and friends stuck in uncertainty simply because of the visa they hold.

“After two years of disruption from the pandemic, we have a unique opportunity to reset our approach to immigration. Our political leaders should take steps to ensure this system reflects the values of the community by allowing migrants and refugees living in Australia to have a stable future.” 

The survey results can be found here. 

The Migrant Worker Centre’s report  Lives In Limbo: The Experiences Of Migrant Workers Navigating Australia’s Unsettling Migration System is available here.

Media contact:

Alex Sheehy, Media and Communications Manager, 0485 864 320, alex.sheehy@hrlc.org.au