A National Migration Institute is necessary in Australia to dispel misunderstandings about migration, improve public awareness, and restructure laws for social and economic gains.

A National Migration Institute is desperately needed in Australia to counter the growing wave of disinformation endangering social cohesion and democracy in the country. Australia’s identity is fundamentally shaped by migration, yet myths and sensationalism have never obscured this fact more than they do now.

In this year that is crucial for democracy, a significant event that brings together top experts on the subject of migration will raise the bar for discussions and encourage well-informed public discourse.

Misguided measures, such as integrating immigration into national security frameworks, have resulted from the persisting myth that migration is a crime and security issue.

But the reality is far different. Since more than half of Australians were either born abroad or to immigrant parents, migration is primarily an economic and social phenomena. Australia’s economy is driven by its migrant population, who make substantial contributions with their skills and taxes that pay for infrastructure and necessary services.

A much-needed platform for precise, data-driven information on migration would be made available via the establishment of a National Migration Institute. This institute would use a thorough methodology, looking at how migration affects Australia’s society, economy, and standing abroad. Additionally, it would respond to requests for increased public sector involvement in long-term policy planning and migration research.

It’s critical that public discussions about migration are based on logic and facts rather than fear and false information as it becomes a major topic in elections around the world. The persistence of misconceptions regarding migration is mostly caused by the absence of a centralized, authoritative voice that can rectify them.

There is an urgent need for reform in Australia’s migration system, including improved agency collaboration. The nation needs to invest in better governance, research, and education on how migration shapes the nation in order to properly harness the benefits of migration.

It is now Australia’s turn to lead with facts, promote understanding, and see to it that migration is managed in a way that unites, not divides, the country.