The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has released visitor arrivals and departures data for the month of February, which registered a rebound in net long-term and permanent migration into Australia.
In the year to February 2014, there were 774,710 permanent and long-term arrivals into Australia – down from the record 792,500 arrivals set in the year to January 2013 – partly offset by 381,370 permanent and long-term departures from Australia (see next chart).
There were 393,340 net permanent and long-term arrivals into Australia in the year to February 2014, up from 383,970 net arrivals in the year to January 2014, and representing a 38% increase from the January 2011 trough and well over double the long-run average of 152,676 (see next chart).
However, while overall net long-term arrivals continue to boom, albeit at a slower pace, it is a different story for permanent migration. In the year to February 2014, permanent arrivals fell by 2% to 149,590, whereas permanent departures fell by only 1% to 89,300 – to be just off record highs (see next chart).
Net permanent arrivals into Australia fell by 5% over the year and are tracking 8% below the long-run average (see next chart).
