UQ Forum examines economics of immigration

The economic implications of Australia's immigration policy will be discussed at a forum for 1000 staff and students of the UQ Business School on August 23.

The Department of Economics at The University of Queensland is organising the forum entitled Macroeconomic Implications of Immigration, at the UQ St Lucia campus.

Three leading Australian economists, representing a wide range of views on the immigration question, have been invited to discuss and debate the topic.

Forum organiser Associate Professor Richard Brown said it was important that students of economics had the opportunity to witness economics and economists in action.

"From this sort of debate they will gain a better appreciation of the power and relevance of textbook economics theories in addressing important economic and social issues of concern to the wider community," he said.

"For this reason the Forum constitutes an integral part of the first year macroeconomics curriculum at UQ Business School.

"It is also important that major business schools and economics departments such as ours, with strong research capacities, play an active role in promoting informed public debate on this issue.

"We see this as a timely response by UQ's Department of Economics to the call by the Business Council of Australia and Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock for Australia's population debate to be taken beyond the more emotive issues that have dominated it in the recent past."

Speakers include Professors Judith Sloan, Commissioner of Productivity Commission and Director of companies, and Professor Raja Junankar, Department of Economics and Finance, University of Western Sydney. Both prominent labour economists, they will confront such questions as whether migrants take jobs from, or create more opportunities for Australian-born residents.

Professor Clive Hamilton, Director of the Australian Institute in Canberra, will question Australia's capacity to sustain continued economic and population growth through immigration, given the environmental consequences.

Media: Further information, Amy Lindley - Economics Department Marketing and Publications Officer, telephone: 3365 6578, email: a.lindley@economics.uq.edu.au