Could Australia and the UK have open borders with each other?
Yet beyond the clichés, these two islands share a close affinity. Some of that is clear from their similarities — the love of cricket and rugby, the shared language, the fondness for getting piss drunk and starting fights in neighbours like Magaluf and Bali.
But the most obvious sign of the link between these two countries is the vast number of people living, traveling and working between them. Over 160,000 Australians were in the UK in 2020, while migration in the opposite direction is even more astonishing — roughly 1.2 million Brits live in Australia.
Most of those moving are attracted by the differences. In the UK, Australians see a less isolated place, with more cultural attractions, and with more professional work opportunities — many of Australia’s political and corporate elite spent their early professional years in London. Meanwhile, Brits are obviously attracted by Australia’s climate and nature.
It has never been easy. Expensive flights, distance from family, and visa requirements have all added to the complexity of movement between the two countries. Yet in recent years, some of these barriers have been falling.
0 Comments