Australia cuts immigrant quota and makes some cities off-limits
Annual intake will be cut to 160,000 people from 190,000 in a bid to curb congestion and rising house prices
Sydney — Australia on Wednesday cut its annual intake of immigrants by nearly 15%, and barred some new arrivals from living in its largest cities for three years, in a bid to ease urban congestion. Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who is trailing badly in the polls ahead of a federal election in May, hopes to tap into rising voter frustration over house prices and congestion, which some see as a consequence of population growth. “This is a practical problem that Australians wanted addressed,” Morrison told reporters in Canberra, the capital, after announcing the annual immigration intake would be cut to 160,000 people, with effect from July 1, versus 190,000 before. The policy change comes at a time of national reflection over Australia’s attitude towards migrants after at least 50 people were shot dead at two mosques in New Zealand’s city of Christchurch. Australian Brenton Tarrant, 28, a suspected white supremacist, was charged with murder on Saturday after a lone gunman opened fire...
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