Leading Australian demographer Peter McDonald has warned against slashing immigration numbers, a measure which is currently being discussed by the federal government.

According to Macdonald, cutting the Australian immigration quota in light of the worldwide recession could have major implications for the eventual resurrection of the country’s economy, stifling the nation’s chances of rectifying its economic downturn.
 

“In the short to medium term, immigration is the only means available to meet large aggregate labour demand in Australia,” he said.

Macdonald also announced his prediction that in order to cope with baby boomers moving into retirement over the next forty years, the only way to sustain the Australian economy is to attract at least 180,000 new migrants to the country between now and 2020.

“Migrants do provide their own economic stimulus,” he added. “They come into the country with money, they spend it to buy houses and set themselves up.”