The federal government’s plan to cut the number of migrants coming to Australia has not been well received by the region’s multicultural service.
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Prime Minister Scott Morrison predicted the changes would lower the annual immigration target from its cap of 190,000, and said “community sentiment” towards migration must be considered in addition to the economic impacts.
His comments focused on the growing strain on major cities like Melbourne and Sydney, which overlooked the positive impact migration could have in regional centres like Bendigo, Loddon Campaspe Multicultural Services executive officer Kate McInnes said.
“We don't see any need to reduce (migrant) intake. It’s been hugely beneficial to our region,” she said.
Referencing a recent report, which showed the Karen Community had contributed $67.1 million to the local economy over 10 years, Ms McInnes said cultural diversity had been positive for the region.
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“In his (Prime Minister Morrison) address he talks about public sentiment being against immigration - I don't think that's correct,” he said.
The Prime Minister’s comments follow the federal government last month announcing its intentions to require a percentage of immigrants to spent five years living in smaller towns rather than settle in capital cities.
The policy, like the PM’s comments, were pitched as means of alleviating populations pressures on capital cities, but Ms McInnes suggested they were unhelpful.
“I don't think that's useful for anyone. We want people to come to certain areas because they like it not because they are forced to,” she said.
A report examining the controversy surrounding Bendigo’s mosque debate found a greater sense of intercultural understanding was achieved through the process, but issues remain.
“Fostering inclusive events and social gatherings emerged as a means of positively engaging community members in intercultural conversations,” the report stated.
Despite what the researchers described as “negativity of relations during the time of the protests”, they concluded that greater intercultural understanding had emerged.
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