The astonishing graph that highlights how immigration has soared - and Pauline ... trends now
An astonishing graph has highlighted how almost two-thirds of new overseas migrants are flooding into Sydney and Melbourne, worsening severe city congestion and the housing crisis.
A record 548,742 migrants moved to Australia in the year to September, sending population growth to its highest level since 1952 at 2.5 per cent.
A graphic by IFM Investors chief economist Alex Joiner reveals 186,433 new migrants set up home in New South Wales alone, while another 161,758 settled in Victoria.
More than 63 per cent of newly-arrived permanent and long-term foreigners moved to the two states, which are also home to a larger number of international students.
Most will be living in Sydney and Melbourne - Australia's two biggest cities which already have 5million-plus residents each and are enduring a crippling rental crisis.
The astonishing graph has highlighted how almost two-thirds of new overseas migrants are flooding into Sydney and Melbourne, adding to severe city congestion
Queensland, a recipient of high interstate migration, received 87,954 overseas migrants as mining-rich Western Australian received 67,629 foreigners.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has now unveiled a five-point plan to deal with the record immigration levels.
Halt immigration
She wants an immediate halt to immigration levels as Australia grapples with a record-low rental vacancy rate of one per cent.
'I call for a halt to further immigration and for government to first look after our aged, the sick and the helpless,' she told the Senate on Thursday morning.
'On behalf of the majority of Australians, I demand a halt to immigration.'
Hold a plebiscite
Senator Hanson wants Australia to hold a plebiscite on immigration, noting this had only been done three times since Federation in 1901.
'Most Australians don't want high immigration, and the major parties completely ignore the polls that universally confirm this fact,' she said.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has now unveiled a five-point plan to deal with the record immigration levels
'However, there's one type of poll they can't ignore: a national plebiscite.'
Of Australia's plebiscites, two out of three have been defeated, including ones on conscription in 1916 and 1917 during World War I.
Stand up to big corporations
Senator Hanson wants the government to stand up to corporate interests pushing high immigration.
'You've got people like the Harvey Normans of this world and Bunnings who all want higher immigration because they're going to sell more products,' she said.
'That's what it's all about. You're not interested in the average person out there.'
Harvey Norman chairman Gerry Harvey in 2017 predicted Australia will be an 'Asian country' with a population of 100 million by next century and said 'there's not a chance in hell we can stop it'.
Wesfarmers, the parent company of hardware chain Bunnings, called for a higher immigration intake in 2022.
Chief executive Rob Scott argued businesses were struggling to recruit staff and were putting off major projects because of a labour shortage.
'Cafes, restaurants, hospitality, tourism businesses, particularly in regional areas, are
