Australia to become a ‘hermit nation’ in the absence of innovative policy

Mr Morrison warned that while Australia has seen "lightning-fast" public policy innovation in the face of the wicked problems thrown up by the pandemic, it is now on the verge of becoming a "hermit nation". 

In fact, last year's federal budget population growth forecasts suggested there would be around 1 million fewer Australians in 2022 than previously predicted, as population growth slows to its lowest rate in over 100 years, dropping from 1.2 per cent in 2019-20 to 0.2 per cent in 2020-21 and 0.4 per cent in 2021-22. This same budget predicted that Australia would begin to normalise international arrivals towards the end of 2021. 

“We need the international students, skilled workers, working holiday makers and new migrants to enter the country in much greater numbers to fill skills gaps, create jobs and restart important export industries," Mr Morrison said. 

Stressing that Australia can stay safe and avoid “the economic pitfalls of being a hermit nation”, he noted that "this is not a binary choice between community health and economic growth".

"Quarantining arrangements can be upscaled in a COVID-safe way," he said.

“There is no reason we could not come up with the physical quarantining solutions, right funding methods – including some cost recovery – and staffing plan to make this happen.” 

Without action, Australia’s economy faces a significant opportunity cost, Mr Morrison warned. In fact, last year's report by the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation forecasted that COVID-19 could cut demand for housing in Australia by between 129,000 and 232,000 dwellings over the next three years, based on a range of scenarios including a decline in population. 

To reverse such problems, Mr Morrison is urging clear steps towards growth and prosperity. 

“If health experts recommend borders should stay closed until the vaccine rollout is complete – or maybe beyond this point for travellers from many parts of the world – then we should set a course for growth and prosperity, not just wait and risk our recovery,” he concluded. 

“In the case of an upscaled quarantine framework, if we build it, they will come – and they will bring their wallets, too.”