Alternative net migration estimates for Australia: exploding the myth of a rapid increase in numbers

Extensive use has been made of recently published Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) estimates of net overseas migration. These estimates indicate a considerable increase in net overseas migration to Australia, from 79.2 thousand in 1997-98 to 154.2 thousand in 2002-03. This paper provides an alternative methodology which produces substantially lower, but more plausible net overseas migration estimates for Australia. Copyright. Monash University and the author/s