Billionaire developer Harry Triguboff has called on Australia to increase immigration inflows, but warned against China.
The Meriton Group founder explained his reasons for supporting increased immigration during an appearance on the popular Straight Talk with Mark Bouris podcast.
“We need more immigration because if we don’t have migrants it’s very, very difficult (to build),” he said.
Mr Triguboff, estimated to be the fourth richest person in Australia, suggested the country would collapse due to an aging population unless immigration levels were increased.
“Life is so difficult in so much of the world that everyone would love to come here. Not to destroy us, they just want to come and live here. It’s a good place to live,” Mr. Triguboff said.
He advocated diverse immigration policies that welcome migrants from a wide range of backgrounds.
“Chinese are great migrants, but if we bring a lot of them, they will take over,” Mr. Triguboff explained.
‘Now I really like Eastern Europeans, because they know how to work. They are well trained, they will be good. I think South Americans are good too. But we cannot be dependent on one party.
Meriton founder and chief executive Harry Triguboff (pictured) said the number of immigrants arriving in Australia should be increased, not reduced
Mark Bouris (photo) conducted an extensive 90-minute interview with Harry Triguboff
‘Of course the Chinese are the best: they have money and they work and study, and they are young, but we cannot depend on one type.
“I mean, if you talk about Vietnamese, or a guy from Taiwan, they’re still the same Chinese – there’s no difference between them.
‘So we have to make sure we have all types. And they want all kinds themselves. If they love being Chinese so much, why did they come in the first place?’
Speaking with Mr Bouris, Mr Triguboff said local councils were partly responsible for Australia’s housing crisis due to their slow approval of new developments.
‘The councils don’t approve anything quickly. “I have a lot of money, I would like to build more, but I can’t get approval,” Mr. Triguboff said.
He suggested council staff should be given bonuses to encourage them to approve more development applications.
“The problem is that there is voting in the councils,” he said of the third level of government. He reported that councilors told him: ‘Harry, what you said is absolutely right… but if we approve it, we will lose the seat.’
‘So I say: the councilor should not have the right of approval. Because they are not doing it for the good of the country, but for the good of themselves,” Triguboff said.
“The bureaucrats (have to approve it). If the bureaucrats approve more, they should get bonuses.”
Harry Triguboff is the owner of the Meriton Group and said local councils are partly responsible for Australia’s housing crisis, due to their slow approval of new developments
A Meriton spokesperson said Triguboff’s comments were “part of a wider discussion highlighting the critical role migration plays in Australia’s growth and the contributions of diverse communities to the nation.”
“In the podcast, Mr. Triguboff expressed his continued respect for Chinese migrants, recognizing them as hardworking, enterprising and deeply committed to education,” the spokesperson said.
“However, he also reaffirmed his advocacy for a balanced and diverse approach to migration, which he said would better serve Australia’s long-term interests.”