ABSTRACT
In the coming years, external circumstances are likely to pressure Australia to accept many more migrants. Australia offers migrants more space and a better future for their children than in most home countries. Urban growth and industrial expansion is depleting the availability of arable land and putting more pressure on the country to export to pay for its increasing dependency on food and energy imports. Asia's recent financial crisis has been a set back for millions of people. Most Southeast Asian countries have no social welfare net to help their people in times of economic difficulty. Recent political fragmentation in Central Asia following the end of the Soviet Union has led to violent ethnic and political clashes. Pressure on Australia to accept more migrants will increase in the twentieth first century as more people, particularly from poor countries, flee their homes. Australia tough attitude towards illegal migrants from its northern neighbours is to discourage new waves of boat people.
