Changes

In 1999, there was a surge in illegal immigration to Australia.<ref name="Dawson">Dawson, Stephan (August 28, 2015). [https://ricochet.com/archives/how-australia-stopped-illegal-immigration/ How Australia Stopped Illegal Immigration]. ''Ricochet''. Retrieved August 18, 2016.</ref> The Liberal (the conservative party) prime minister [[John Howard]] cracked down on illegal immigration and by 2002, there was virtually no illegal immigration.<ref name="Dawson"/> In 2007, [[Kevin Rudd]] of the Labor party was elected prime minister, and because of his government's lenient immigration policy, the number of illegal immigrants skyrocketed, reaching over 20,000 people and 300 boats in the year 2013 alone.<ref name="Dawson"/> However, the government did not acknowledge that its lax policies were the reason for the growth in illegal immigration.<ref name="Dawson"/> In 2013, the Liberal Party was voted back into the government, and again instituted strict (and thus, controversial) policies again, and illegal immigration dropped to virtually zero, with only one boat arriving in 2014, and zero in 2015.<ref name="Dawson"/>

In 1999, there was a surge in illegal immigration to Australia.<ref name="Dawson">Dawson, Stephan (August 28, 2015). [https://ricochet.com/archives/how-australia-stopped-illegal-immigration/ How Australia Stopped Illegal Immigration]. ''Ricochet''. Retrieved August 18, 2016.</ref> The Liberal (the conservative party) prime minister [[John Howard]] cracked down on illegal immigration and by 2002, there was virtually no illegal immigration.<ref name="Dawson"/> In 2007, [[Kevin Rudd]] of the Labor party was elected prime minister, and because of his government's lenient immigration policy, the number of illegal immigrants skyrocketed, reaching over 20,000 people and 300 boats in the year 2013 alone.<ref name="Dawson"/> However, the government did not acknowledge that its lax policies were the reason for the growth in illegal immigration.<ref name="Dawson"/> In 2013, the Liberal Party was voted back into the government, and again instituted strict (and thus, controversial) policies again, and illegal immigration dropped to virtually zero, with only one boat arriving in 2014, and zero in 2015.<ref name="Dawson"/>

Australia continued enacting additional border security measures which resulted is all forms of migration falling even further by 2018.<ref>Kent, Simon (May 30, 2018). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/05/30/toughened-border-security-drives-plunge-in-australias-migration-intake/ Toughened Border Security Drives Plunge in Australia’s Migration Intake]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 30, 2018.</ref>

Australia continued enacting additional border security measures which resulted in all forms of migration falling even further by 2018.<ref>Kent, Simon (May 30, 2018). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/05/30/toughened-border-security-drives-plunge-in-australias-migration-intake/ Toughened Border Security Drives Plunge in Australia’s Migration Intake]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 30, 2018.</ref> Because of its immigration policies, Australia's migration levels reached a 10-year low in 2017.<ref>Kent, Simon (July 13, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/07/13/tougher-border-controls-crash-australias-migrant-numbers-to-10-year-low/ Tougher Border Controls Crash Australia’s Migrant Numbers to 10-Year Low]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved July 13, 2018.</ref>

===Recent trends===

===Recent trends===