Policy Decision Analysis in Australia - Essay Example

Student Name: Tutor: Title: Policy Decision analysis in Australia Course: Policy Decision analysis in Australia Introduction Policy decisions by the government always involve an aspect of risk according to the perceptions of different stakeholders who are affected. Risk management has to be considered during the formulation of any important policies by the government. Risk has been defined as the probability of occurrence entails both gains and losses hence creating some level of uncertainty. Some have defined risk as a function of frequency and the anticipated consequences which may be negative or positive. In the recent years there have been policies that the government of Australia has adjusted or put in place in order to address the needs of its citizens. During policy formulation the chances of system failure cannot be ruled out. Some of these policies have touched pertinent aspects like indigenous heritage, education, immigration, fisheries, and foreign relations. The immigration policy with regard to skilled immigrants has stirred debate among economist, employers, Australians jobseekers, environmental experts, and the general public. The views vary from one group to another with regard to the effects of the immigration policy. This essay analyses the risks that accompanies changes in immigration policy changes. Discussion The Policy Decision For about two hundred years Australia has built its population using immigration. It has been suggested that immigration would change the dynamic national identity of Australia. Consequently successive governments have looked for ways of controlling migration to result into long-term social impacts that shape the Australian politics’ character. From 1788 to 1940s migration policy targeted to lock out anyone who did not have a European descent, and the issue of skilled immigrants was overlooked (McKenzie & Hasmath, 2013). However, migration policy has since then be directed towards overcoming this problem through targeting educated and skilled migrants for other non-European countries globally and the Asia-Pacific region. Governments have sought to have control on the effect of permanent residence in Australia as a result of immigration. These efforts have lead to changes in immigration policies in order to address the needs affecting Australia. The Australia’s Migration Programme is designed to identify skilled migrants with extraordinary abilities that can contribute to the growth of Australian economy. Skilled people migration into Australia helps in addressing shortages of skill in Australia and boosts the skill and size level of the labour force in Australia. From 2010 to 2011 the outcome from skill stream accounted for about 67% of the total migration programme. The level of planning for skill stream for 2011 to 2012 was targeted at 68% of the Migration Programme (Dyster & Meredith, 2012). In skill stream processing priority is offered to applicants that are going to a regional area nominated by a state or territory government, or sponsored by employers. The Humanitarian program for 2011 to 2012 included 12% targeting women at Risk visas. This category also includes Onshore Protection visas that are given to people who normally apply for protection in Australia and later turn out to be refugees. A total of 13,799 visas were issued in 2010 to 2011 under the Humanitarian Program. The Permanent Employer Sponsored Programme has two schemes that consist of Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) and Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) (McKenzie & Hasmath, 2013). The programme permits employers to nominate foreign talents or workers for permanent residence to address shortages in the labour market. Each of the visa subclasses will have three streams. The temporary residence transition stream targets 457 visa holders who have been with their employers for more than 2 years in the occupation and the employer desires to give them a permanent position in the occupation. Direct entry stream is directed towards applicants who are not tested in the Australian labour market and did not at all held a subclass 457 visa for a period of 2 years or are sending their application from outside Australia. The third stream is known as the agreement stream whose applicants are sponsored by an employer using a negotiated and tailored labour agreement (Wulff & Dharmalingam, 2008). Business investment and innovation programme targets migrants who have shown history of success in business and innovation and can contribute significantly to the Australian economy and the national innovation system. The immigration regulations adjustments had the purpose of protecting the local labour market as at the same time permitting business enterprises to address labour shortages using temporary programs. Some locals feel that unnecessary foreign competition in the labour market. Stakeholders have expressed their fears and worries following the changes in the immigration policy. This is a typical case that illustrates an element of risk in any government policy formulation process (Withers, 2004). While businesses seek to address cases of shortage of labour, the Australian labour market complains about unnecessary competition in the labour market due to the influx of immigrants. Risk perceptions from different stakeholders There are many views from the Australian public on the level and composition of immigration, and its effects of degree of immigration variability as well as population growth. Some of the views are founded on empirical data while others are purely speculative. There are potential dilemmas that have been pointed out despite the changes in immigration of policy in Australia. Some of these dilemmas consists of absolute population of the aged continuing to increase in spite high immigration aimed at aimed at offsetting ageing, as well as reducing birth-rates in a proportional perspective; a deteriorating of trade balance of Australia owing to increased imports, increased degree of emissions of greenhouse gas, the overexploitation of agricultural soils, decline in river quality, urban quality, and general biodiversity. Sustainable Population Australia (SPA) warns that Australia will not continue to sustain its present rate of population growth without facing the danger of being overpopulated (Washer, 2005). SPA argues that changes in climate can lead to worsening ecosystems via increased temperatures, less rainfall in the south, and extreme weather hence ruling out the ability of sustaining a huge population at higher levels. Some experts believe that Australia is already overpopulated. Population control is important to addressing global warming. More severe droughts could be experienced in future and they will tend to be more frequent. Australia Institute explains that the population growth of Australia is responsible for the growth in country’s greenhouse emissions. As immigrants change their lifestyles to fit in the Australia context, they lead to increase in greenhouse gas emissions. It has been determined that every additional seventy thousand immigrants will occasion additional emissions of 20M tones of greenhouse gases by the elapse if Kyoto defined time and 30M by the year 2020 (Tan et al, 2010). However, another journal nature differs and explains that immigration does not necessitates global warming since although immigration result in increase of population in one country, globally immigration does not affect population in anyway. Economists raise the concern about housing. High level of immigration and the potential of new arrivals make it challenging for housing in the country. Demand for housing goes up and some immigrants end up living in deplorable conditions. This is a big challenge in cities such as Melbourne and Sydney. Australian lenders have been forced to relax regulations for temporary residents and allow them to buy a home depositing only 10% of the buying price (Nijkamp, Poot & Sahin, 2012). Rapid growth of particularly overseas students has resulted in increased demand for rental housing. Employer sponsored 457 visa has been a subject of controversy and many people have complained about the misuse of the programme by employers. Changes to immigration policy have had different impacts on the Australian business. The manufacturing workers union of Australia has condemned the 457 visa program since it is described as a means of misusing overseas workers and looking for means to ensure low wages and poor working conditions in Australia. The union argues that workers under the 457 scheme have been underpaid, abused and normally exposed to deplorable working conditions (Shah & Burke, 2005). Many abuses have been reported among 457 visa holders who lack skills in English language and do not therefore possess technical skills to be eligible for 457 visas. This demonstrates abuse of 457 visa programme by employers under dubious circumstances. The manufacturing workers Union has explained that 457 visa scheme has been undermining the Australian labour market by giving a means of survival to employers who cannot attract workers in the Australian market due to poor conditions and pay, or do not want to use resources to train workers in specific areas where there is shortage of skills (Chiswick, Lee & Miller, 2005). Consequently these employers readily sponsor overseas workers at cheap rates under the 457 visa subclass programme. Other people point out that the immigration policy is not stringent in spite of changes made to it in 2009. They observe that the local labour market has to be protected from unscrupulous employers who avoid Australian citizens and go for immigrants due to poor pay and working conditions. The oversupply of 457 visas is a big challenge to qualified citizens of Australia who are competing for the same job in the labour market (Hugo, 2008). Employers do not want to spend more on wages demanded by the natives and opt for less demanding workers from overseas. Some economists have suggested that the surge in the 457 visa holders will slow down the economy of Australia. While other people are hurting, employers are okay with an alternative to address labour shortage in the Australian market. Recommendations Any policy decision comes with an element of risk owing to the nature of uncertainty of consequences. It is important for the government to ensure there is public participation before implementation of any policy. The dynamics in the Australian market and the concern of experts on the housing and environmental conservation has to compel the government to seek the opinion of other stakeholders before making changes to any policy. The need for subclass scheme of 457 Visa has to be discussed extensively and the concerns of qualified people in Australian labour market addressed. The government should not provide a cheap way for employers to circumvent the labour regulations and opt for cheap labour from overseas workers using skilled immigrant programmes. The 457 visa scheme has to be reviewed to ensure that all concerns from stakeholders. Employers who take advantage of this immigration schemes have to be investigated and prosecuted. The impact of the policy changes have to be analyzed and further suggestions provided on how best to serve the interests of Australians. The immigration schemes allowing foreigners to gain permanent residence in Australia can be abused by employers and foreigners to gain entry. Native Australian in the labour market should not suffer because of the influx of foreigners. The risks involved in any policy have to be analyzed thoroughly and concerns raised by different stakeholders addressed. The impact of rapid population growth on the economy of Australia due to immigrants’ influx had to be contemplated (Dyster & Meredith, 2012). Experts have to be involved in the case of policy decisions that are bound to affect many people. Policy changes come with consequences that can be hurtful and at the same time beneficial to other citizens. The long term impact of policy decisions has to be considered since it affects the growth of the country and its economy. Uncertainties of consequences require that all odds have to be discussed and fears dispelled. Conclusion Risks perceptions are different among different stakeholders in case of a policy decision by the government. Everybody perceives risk from a different angle. Not everyone will be satisfied in case of a policy change but concerns raised by majority of stakeholders have to be discussed. Australia has seen an influx of immigrants since the adjustments made to the immigration policy. While shortages in skills and talent have to be addressed, the government has to address the issues raised by the qualified workers in the Australian labour market. Risks concerns in any policy decisions will always surface but it matters on how they are addressed. References Chiswick, B., Lee, Y. & Miller, P. 2005, Immigrant earnings: a longitudinal analysis, Review of Income and Wealth, 51 (4): 485–503. Dyster, B., & Meredith, D., 2012, Australia in the Global Economy: Continuity and Change, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Hugo, G.J., 2008c. Sydney: The Globalization of an Established Immigrant Gateway, in M. Price and L. Benton-Short (eds.), Migrants to the Metropolis: The Rise of Immigrant Gateway Cities, Syracuse University Press, pp. 68-96. McKenzie, J. & Hasmath, R., 2013, Deterring the ‘Boat People’: Explaining the Australian Government's People Swap Response to Asylum Seekers, Australian Journal of Political Science 48(4): 417-430. Nijkamp, P., Poot, J., & Sahin, M., 2012, Migration Impact Assessment: New Horizons, Edward Elgar Publishing, Melbourne. Shah, C. and Burke, G. 2005, Skills shortages: concepts, measurement and policy responses, Australian Bulletin of Labour, 31 (1): 44–71. Tan, Y., Richardson, S., Fitzgerald, D. & Wei, Z., 2010. Review of Approach to Skilled and Business Migration in South Australia, National Institute of Labour Studies, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia. Washer, M. 2005, Sustainable Cities, House of Representatives Standing Committee on Environment and Heritage (Dr Mal Washer, Chairman), AGPS, Canberra Withers, G. 2004, Australia's Population Future: A Position Paper, Prepared for the Business Council of Australia, Melbourne. Wulff, M. & Dharmalingam, A., 2008. Retaining Skilled Migrants in Regional Australia: The Role of Social Connectedness, Journal of International Migration and Integration, 9 (2): 147-160. Read More