The massive inflow of almost 300,000 migrants and temporary workers last year was one of the biggest contributors to Australia's superior economic performance during the global recession.

Their spending delivered a stimulus at least as big as the government's first cash splash, and the flexibility of a temporary migrant labour force that now holds about 7.5 per cent of all jobs helped the economy to ride out the downturn with a relatively little rise in unemployment.

http://www.theaustralian.com.a...frg9if-1225823060974