Would have voted differently

More than one in 10 voters would have voted differently had they known Australia was headed towards a hung parliament, according to a new poll. The nationwide poll of 1000 voters was conducted from Friday to Sunday for the public affairs company Ogilvy Illumination and came at the end of a week without any indication as to who would govern Australia. It found that 13 per cent of voters would change their vote if they went to the polls again. This, the pollster said, would be ''more than enough to result in a substantially changed federal parliament were Australians to be called back to the polls in the near future''.

Australians' future

The four independents mulling over who to support in a minority government have not ruled out walking away from the whole process and making the country have another election should they be unsatisfied with the intent of the negotiations. The poll did not indicate which party would benefit should there be another election. Labour suffered the most from changed voter behaviour on August 21 with a large swag of votes.

Asylum seekers and Australian politics

Australia is facing a "hung parliament" situation since 1940 and the decision on whether Labour or Coalition will depend upon 4 independent and one Green party candidate. One of the four independents holding the nation's future in his hands condemned both the main parties as he warned he might not support either when he announces his decision in the coming days. He said a humane asylum-seeker policy was paramount. The Coalition's election pledge to stop asylum seeker boats is under threat with key independents likely to block a key plank of its refugee policy. A Coalition government would need the support of at least two independents to reinstate temporary protection visas, abolished by Labour in 2008. Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has said temporary visas are crucial to stopping people smugglers selling asylum seekers a permanent life in Australia. Temporary protection visas were introduced in 1999. Refugees holding them were denied family reunions and were required to prove a need for protection every three years.

Migration is NOT boat people

Migration has always and will always be a very hot topic in Australian election debates. To date, one in four Australians are born outside Australia. Both main parties have supported a well planned skilled migration programme to sustain the growth of Australian economy. As a matter of fact, there has been no opposition for the skilled migrants entering Australia. Looking at the growth of economy, it is paramount to continue a demand driven skilled migration intake. Without the readily available skills arriving in Australia each year, it has been evident the skilled/professional labour shortages could not be met.

Currently, out of the total migration intake, 76 per cent is skilled workers and the intake of skilled migrants for this financial year stands at 113000, up 5000 places from last financial year. Australia being a continent, the sixth largest nation, has a population of 21 million. Being one of the world's largest economy, common sense tells us a steady flow of skilled professional is an essential element. However, the spotlight was always on boat people and asylum seekers, which counts only one per cent of the total migration. The management of the illegal entrants has been an ongoing issue regardless of the government in power. Therefore, the debated migration policy has always been either focused on humanitarian visas or management of boat people. None of the major parties nor independents have expressed any concern over the major portion of the migration intake.

Economic policy is the key

In deciding the future Australian government, the opinion of the independents would be crucial. Five out of four candidates are for a more liberal approach. Some have sided with Labour to abolish detention debts last year and have expressed ''to unwind some of the damage'' done by tough talk on asylum seekers. The fifth cross-bencher, Bob Katter, is likely to support the Coalition, having argued for boats to be turned around.

Having stated all of the above, I personally would not see a drastic change to the skilled migration intake regardless of the government in power. It is the economic situation that will decide if more places will be available for skilled professionals.

Australia enjoyed an economic boom in the decade from late 1997 and has shown 17 years of consecutive growth before the global financial crisis. Australian unemployment rates have always been at control levels in mid to low five per cent. Strong economic policies have been proposed by both parties for the benefit of the nation. If these policies are to lead the economy, it is inevitable that professional/skilled workers are needed to sustain the growth. I am very hopeful that Australia will continue to provide these opportunities to many non Australians.

Surani Punchihewa - An Australian registered migration consultant.