1544.

That’s the shocking number revealed by 2GB’s Ben Fordham on Monday.

1544 new migrants every single day.

1544 more people who need housing.

1544 more people on the roads.

1544 more people competing for jobs and schools.

Despite promises to slow down the rate of immigration into Australia, the Labor government has kept the floodgates open.

Fordham, in his radio monologue, put this number in perspective.

This year, 279,000 people have moved into Australia. That’s more than the population of Hobart.

In the last financial year, 457,000 have arrived. More than the population of Canberra.

457,000 despite Labor’s own budget projecting 335,000.

How does that happen? The government, in theory, controls the border. They set the laws for visas and residency. Yet they invited 120,000 more people in than they projected.

It makes no sense to any reasonable person and Aussies never voted for this.

The eventual bipartisan agreement to deal with illegal boats and bogus refugee claims with offshore detention has made Australia’s immigration policy the envy of many countries around the world who cannot control illegal immigration.

But while we got a handle on illegal arrivals, it’s hidden the fact that legal immigration has exploded.

And it’s exploded right when there’s a massive housing affordability crisis hitting our cities.

Fordham goes on to point out that these high levels of immigration are hiding the true state of our economy. More people makes our GDP look like it’s growing, but that’s just an outcome from this massive influx of people.

In per-person terms, Australians are getting poorer.

Between high immigration, the NDIS, and the growth in public service jobs, Australia’s prosperity is being built on a house of sand.

The Prime Minister and Treasurer are leading a productivity summit this week.

Immigration is not on the agenda.

Top of the list should be putting a pause on immigration so we can get our economy sorted out.

Instead they’re hiding from the problem and you’re paying the price.