Escape Australia!

Since March last year, 156,507 Australian citizens and permanent residents were given exemptions to leave Australia out of 329,180 who made requests, according to the Australian Border Force. A total of 84,031 requests from Australian citizens and permanent residents to leave Australia were denied. In April, there were 65,100 departures from Australia, the highest monthly figure since the pandemic began, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Among those leaving are long-term skilled migrants, which economic policy program director at the Grattan Institute Brendan Coates says Australia can't afford to lose.

'Bye-bye, Australia': The migrants leaving for good so they can see their families

And not just migrants. Native born Australians are wondering if the grass isn’t really greener on the other side of the planet - and if you can walk on that grass without being tackled to the ground by a mob of police.

You won’t see it on the mainstream media, of course, but it’s in private conversations - at least one’s I’m privy to.

Brendan Coates says Australia likely remains a popular destination for skilled migrants given the way it’s prevented the spread of COVID-19, but that could be impacted by a sluggish vaccine rollout.

I’m not sure Mr Coates is correct here. I’m not sure how many from overseas are looking at Australia as a great place to come to right now.

As the jail doors slowly open up (if you have the right papers) some people with the means are fleeing the country. I think it will take a long time for Australia to become a desired migration location again.

… now where’s that Russian for Dummies book?