Business, social service and community bodies want a long-term migration
A broad alliance of business, social service, multicultural, regional and migration organisations has urged the Australian Government to convene a National Migration Summit.
The call was issued on 17 September 2026, ahead of Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke’s National Press Club address on migration.
The group wants the summit to bring together governments, business, unions, community organisations, migration experts and researchers. It says that forum should develop a long-term, evidence-based roadmap for Australia’s migration system.
According to the alliance, the current debate needs to move beyond short-term politics and year-to-year migration numbers. It argues Australia needs a more mature discussion grounded in evidence, informed by diverse perspectives and focused on the national interest.
The organisations want more attention on the role migration plays in the economy, workforce, regional development, social cohesion and future prosperity.
They also want the proposed forum to address community concerns about housing, infrastructure and the cost of living through evidence-based policy discussions.
Eleven organisations back summit call
Supporters named in the alliance include the Australian Council of Social Service, Australian Hotels Association, Australian Restaurant & Cafe Association and the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia.
Other backers are the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia, Migration Institute of Australia, Minerals Council of Australia, Refugee Council of Australia, Regional Australia Institute, Settlement Council of Australia and Tech Council of Australia.
The mix brings together welfare groups, employer bodies, multicultural organisations, regional advocates and migration specialists in one public call before Burke’s speech.
Spokespeople include SSI, FECCA, MCA and RCOA
Available spokespeople include Violet Roumeliotis AM, chief executive of Settlement Services International, Peter Doukas OAM, chair of the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia, Tania Constable PSM, chief executive of the Minerals Council of Australia, and Adama Kamara, co-chief executive of the Refugee Council of Australia.
That list spans settlement services, multicultural advocacy, mining and refugee policy. As a result, the alliance is presenting the summit proposal as a national policy issue that cuts across several sectors.
