You still don't get it??? Crikey @Furpo2... Yes, tourism is important... more important is the 457 Visas and other work-related visas and education visas... According to ABS data, these two Visa sectors bring in almost as much as Tourism. Now all Visas are stopped - that's a massive loss of revenue and employment stimulation. Work and education Visas are far more important than tourism though, because the people who come in are often here for good and build/buy homes, furnishings and send their kids to our schools at higher rates than Aus born.
The latter are around ⅓ lower paid whereas those on employment Visas, except menial immigrants such as abattoir workers, are often well-paid and have greater disposable income. They therefore pay higher GST and other taxes.
Immigration has been the prime function of the recent budgets since 2015.
The Aus economy will continue to struggle and will prob fall much harder, 1st. 2.5% drop at least - up to 12.5% drop by some estimates.
