MORE than 600,000 New Zealanders - almost 15 per cent of the trans-Tasman nation's population - are living in Australia on temporary visas.
New figures show the number of NZ citizens with special category visas jumped 5.4 per cent in the past year as they arrived in droves seeking jobs and better economic conditions.
The New Zealanders are among 1.75 million people, equal to the population of Perth, here on temporary visas, including tourists, foreign students, working holidaymakers and skilled workers on 457 visas.
Monash University population expert Dr Bob Birrell said the number of Kiwis was extraordinary but, unlike other temporary visa holders, they could stay as long as they liked under a trans-Tasman deal.
"They, like working holidaymakers, students and others, add to the competition for jobs, for space on our roadways and ... for housing," he said.
Dr Birrell said that the Kiwi influx was adding about 30,000 people a year to Australia's net migration intake as the economic gulf between the countries grew.
"So it makes sense if you're looking for a job to move to Australia rather than stay in NZ. It's like a bottomless pit, the numbers are really significant."
Dr Birrell said Kiwis here on temporary visas should be given permanent residence, but only if limits were placed on future movement of people from NZ to live and work in Australia.
Immigration Department figures reveal a record number of 1.75 million temporary entrants were here as of December 31 - up 7.2 per cent on the previous year.
This included 618,000 New Zealanders on special category visas, 402,000 visitors, 242,000 foreign students, 162,000 working holiday-makers, 157,000 on 457 visas and 102,000 on bridging visas.
UK citizens topped the visitors list on 82,000, followed by Chinese (33,300), Americans (29,000) and Indians (26,300). Of student visa holders, there were 53,300 Chinese and 29,500 Indians.
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