Opinion: Australia’s prosperity relies on immigrant skills, not rightwing scapegoating

Zoya Patel has published an opinion piece in The Guardian arguing that Australia’s economic prosperity is directly dependent on the skills and labour of immigrants, a reality she says is obscured by rightwing political rhetoric. The article, published on 21 May 2026, refutes narratives that frame migrants as selfish foreigners stealing jobs and housing, asserting instead that the immigration system is designed to fill specific skills gaps and benefit the broader community.

Patel specifically addresses a budget reply speech delivered by Angus Taylor, which she characterises as reinforcing the belief that Australia is being swarmed by immigrants intent on taking the jobs, housing, and culture of white Australians. She describes this perspective as baffling, noting that it ignores the structural barriers and high costs associated with migrating to Australia. According to Patel, the notion that overseas residents can easily uproot their lives to steal a way of life is factually incorrect.

The author outlines three primary visa pathways for Australia: skilled migration, family or spouse visas, and student visas. She notes that these routes require substantial financial investment and a large burden of proof, often contingent on criteria that directly benefit the Australian community. This includes requirements to fill skills gaps or agree to live and work in regional or remote areas for a specific period. Patel highlights that asylum seekers constitute only a minority of new arrivals to the country.

To illustrate the commitment of immigrants, Patel cites her own family’s migration from Fiji in 1992. Her father, an electrical engineer, secured a position in a regional electricity company after a board meeting confirmed no local candidates were available. Her mother worked at a local supermarket, and the couple later owned successful businesses. Over the past 30 years, Patel states her parents have contributed significantly in taxes, remained employed, and engaged in community service, including serving on school boards and P&C committees.

Patel concludes that Australia’s status as a prosperous democratic nation has historically relied on immigrant work and convict labour on stolen land. She argues that immigrants are often scapegoated for economic hardship in a political system that exploits racist ideologies to drive votes. The desire to migrate, she writes, is driven by compromised economic security and safety, such as the violent coups and racist anti-Indian legacy in Fiji, rather than any belief in the cultural superiority of the host nation.