According to the ABS, the preliminary net overseas migration estimate for the year ending December 2010 (171,100 people) was 35% lower than that for the previous year ended December 2009 (264,200 people).
The actual annual net overseas migration figures, for the previous 10 years have been:
- 136,076 Dec-2001
- 110,475 Dec-2002
- 110,104 Dec-2003
- 106,425 Dec-2004
- 137,009 Dec-2005
- 182,180 Dec-2006
- 244,067 Dec-2007
- 315,686 Dec-2008
- 264,159 Dec-2009
- 171,094 Dec-2010
The above figures show that, in reality, the 2010 figure of 171,094 is still high when compared to pre 2006 figures, and that the 2006 to 2009 period was unusually high.
The source for the above is: ABS 3101.0 – Australian Demographic Statistics, Dec 2010.