$35 billion flowed from Australia in migrant remittances during 2024
Migrants in Australia sent $35 billion overseas in 2024. Nearly $7 billion went to India. This sparked debate about the economic impact.
Migrants in Australia sent $35 billion overseas during 2024. According to a Money Transfer Australia report, about $7 billion went to India alone.
Remittance payments help cover basic needs like medical care and family living costs in migrants' home countries. Some people argue that money leaving hurts Australia's economy because it is not spent here instead.
Ryan Edwards, an associate economics professor at the Australian National University, sees it differently. The amount is less than 1 percent of Australia's economy, he says.
His view also leaves out benefits that migrants bring. He noted migrants earn and spend wages here and pay taxes.
The real comparison is migrant versus no migrant, not whether these payments should exist.
- 35 billion dollars
- Total remittances 2024
- Nearly 7 billion dollars
- To India alone
- Less than 1 per cent
- Share of economy
- Ryan Edwards, ANU
- Economist source
Why it mattersMigration is becoming a hot political topic. Understanding how these payments fit into the economy helps us separate real concerns from false arguments.
AustraliaAustralian policymakers and voters need accurate data to debate migration policy fairly, and migrant workers themselves face pressure over whether their family support is good for the country they work in.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 1 h ago
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