Recent figures released show that Victoria’s population increased by 74,000 over the past year, with immigration accounting for 57 per cent of the growth. Victoria’s capital city Melbourne is seeing the majority of migrants, with several hundred arriving each week.

The rise in Australian Immigration has accompanied the economic boom and big business, eager for more consumers and workers.

Not only is this increase significantly adding to Melbourne’s status as a multicultural city, but it is also putting a strain on its infrastructure, with calls from some special interest groups on the internet to cut the intake before it damages Melbourne’s ‘liveability’.

Prime Minister John Howard, who initially cut the migrant intake after winning office in 1996, has become an advocate of high Australian Immigration and said he would maintain current levels.

Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd said the Government had the numbers right and he would continue the policy if elected PM.