3418.0 - Personal Income of Migrants, Australia, Experimental, 2010-11 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 03/12/2015   
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CHANGES IN MIGRANT TAXPAYERS PERSONAL INCOME FROM 2009-10 TO 2010-11

In 2010-11, the Mining Industry in Australia recorded the largest percentage increase from 2009-10 to 2010-11 in the number of jobs held by migrant taxpayers at 24%.
The Australian mining boom was reaching its peak at this time, particularly in Western Australia (WA). According to PITMID, migrant taxpayers in WA reported the second highest increase (18%) in real terms of all the states and territories in total Employee income from 2009-10 to 2010-11 ($5.9 billion to $6.9 billion). They also recorded the second highest increase in average Employee income ($53,088 to $56,848) at 7.1%. In 2010-11, there were 5,943 migrant taxpayers employed in mining jobs in WA. This represented 6.5% of the August 2011 Labour Force estimate which indicated 91,500 people (migrants and non-migrants) were employed in the Mining Industry in WA (ABS, 2011a).

In real terms, Skilled and Family migrants recorded their highest increase in average income from 2009-10 to 2010-11 for Own unincorporated business income (10%). The increase in the Australian average Own unincorporated business income was slightly higher at 14% for the Australian population. By contrast, Humanitarian migrants reported their highest increase in average income from Investments (11%), whilst their average Own unincorporated business income only increased by 0.8%.

The median income of most income sources increased from 2009-10 to 2010-11, with the exception of Other income which decreased by 56% in real terms. This result aligns with the trend identified in Australian taxation statistics for that period (ATO, 2013). As previously mentioned in the 'Migrant Taxpayers Income in 2010-11' section, this decrease cannot be directly attributed to any particular Other income data item. The number of migrant taxpayers reporting Other income in 2010-11 increased by 51% from 2009-10 to 2010-11, so it can be assumed that the amount reported was somewhat less in 2010-11 (Graph 4).

The following dynamic Graph presents the percentage change from 2009-10 to 2010-11 in number of migrant taxpayers, Total income and average income by income type and visa stream.

GRAPH 4: MIGRANT TAXPAYERS AGED 15 YEARS AND OVER, Percent change from 2009-10(a) to 2010-11 in number of taxpayers, Total income and average income, By source of income and visa stream
Graph Image for Graph 4 - Merged

Footnote(s): (a) Percentage changes in income from 2009-10 to 2010-11 are in 2010-11 dollars, adjusted using changes in the Consumer Price Index (b) Includes Superannuation and annuities. (c) Excludes Government pensions and allowances. (d) Persons may have more than one source of Income. (e) Includes "Other permanent" visas not included elsewhere.

Source(s): Estimates of Personal Income for Small Areas, Time Series, 2005-06 to 2010-11 (cat. no. 6524.0.55.002). Personal Income Tax and Migrants Integrated Dataset (PITMID), 2009-10 and 2010-11 (cat. no. 3418.0)



Since 2007-08, the overall number of people (migrants and non-migrants) lodging taxation returns in the Northern Territory (NT) has dropped from 110,659 to 94,881 in 2010-11, the highest decrease of all states and territories (ABS, 2013). In contrast, PITMID shows that the number of migrant taxpayers in Northern Territory increased 13% and their Total income increased by 22% in real terms from 2009-10 to 2010-11, the highest percentage increase of the states and territories (see Graph 5). These findings are consistent with migration data which indicated that Net Overseas Migration (NOM) was a driver of the population increase in the Northern Territory along with natural increase (ABS, 2014). In addition, in the five years to 2010-11, the NT economy grew an average of about 4% annually (ABS, 2011b). Employment growth was particularly strong in the construction, mining and education and training industries (ABS, 2011a). This growth was also associated with a number of major projects in the region. In particular, there has been a large investment in the NT in major liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects, such as the $1.5 billion LNG plant established by ConocoPhillips at Wickham Point in 2006 (ABC, 2014).

The following graph presents the percentage change from 2009-10 to 2010-11 in the number of Migrant taxpayers and Total income for all states and territories.

GRAPH 5: MIGRANT TAXPAYERS AGED 15 YEARS AND OVER, Percent change from 2009-10(a) to 2010-11 in number of taxpayers, Total income and average income, By state and territory
Graph Image for Graph 5 Merged

Footnote(s): (a) Percentage changes in income from 2009-10 to 2010-11 are in 2010-11 dollars, adjusted using changes in the Consumer Price Index.;

Source(s): Personal Income Tax and Migrants Integrated Dataset (PITMID), 2009-10 and 2010-11 (cat. no. 3418.0)



Notes

Changes in income from 2009-10 to 2010-11 are in 2010-11 dollars, adjusted using changes in the Consumer Price Index.

Other income (excluding Government pensions and allowances) includes transfer or trust income; foreign investment fund and/or foreign life insurance assurance policy income (in 2009-10 only); controlled foreign company income; foreign salary/pension income; other net foreign source income; and other (including superannuation and annuity income). Data for superannuation and annuities are understated. See Explanatory Notes for more information.

REFERENCES

Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC), 2014, Darwin Growth Spurt fuelled by LNG, Viewed at <http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-04-28/darwin-lng-boom/5362818>

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), 2011a, Labour Force, Australia, Detailed, Quarterly, (cat. no. 6291.0.55.003), Canberra. Viewed at <https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/6291.0.55.003Aug%202015?OpenDocument>

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), 2011b, Australian National Accounts, (cat. no. 5220.0), Canberra. Viewed at <https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/allprimarymainfeatures/DA07CC89BDB98D90CA257ABC000CDB1A?opendocument>

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), 2013, Estimates of Personal Income for Small Areas, Time Series, 2005-06 to 2010-11 (cat. no. 6524.0.55.002), Canberra. Viewed at <https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/6524.0.55.002>

Australian Taxation Office (ATO), 2013, Australian Taxation Statistics, 2010-11, Canberra. Viewed at <https://www.ato.gov.au/About-ATO/Research-and-statistics/Previous-years/Tax-statistics/>