From its inception in 1945, distinct national-interest features and values underpinned the social licence for Australia’s immigration program. This paper finds that public trust in government capacity or willingness to manage immigration in the national interest has eroded. It proposes a radical rethink of immigration, not reform around current settings, is now needed. 

The paper posits that the scale and type of immigration over the last two decades is outside previous Australian experience, and polling indicates that the public does not accept it. The paper presents an overview of immigration settings and summarises public attitudes on immigration. It finds immigration is no longer underpinned by best-practice principles and values, and it is not seen by the voting public as in the national interest.