CFMO wants free movement among countries of Australia, Canada, NZ, and UK

While so many nations around the world are establishing new borders to minimise the excessive number of unwanted migrant arrivals, the Commonwealth Freedom of Movement Organisation is pushing for free movement among the countries of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

The Commonwealth Freedom of Movement Organisation, or CFMO, is calling for unrestricted movement for the citizens of the 4 countries mentioned above.

Mr James Skinner, the founder of CFMO, is claiming that the idea have already received ‘significant support’ from senators and Mps in each of the nations, who all claim that this move can bring not only economic growth, but also social benefits. A petition online calling for a freedom of movement arrangement similar to the European Union has already gained more than 164,000 signatures as of this writing.

”If the European Union can incorporate freedom of movement for citizens of 28 member states (all of whom have different cultures, languages and ancestries), there is no reason why a free movement initiative between Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom could not be introduced,” Mr Skinner said on an interview with news.com.au.

The CFMO founder also claims that the historical and cultural ties among the 4 Commonwealth countries, added with the similarities in their political and legal system make this idea a brilliant and obvious one. He stated that because all countries have the same levels of economic growth, as well as development, healthcare, not to mention the quality of life, the case that the freedom of movement won’t be such a “brain drain” for any of the great nations.

”Citizens of these countries could therefore move freely without the risk of a migration exodus occurring, which causes negative consequences for all economies involved,” said Mr Skinner.

He also added that ”one of the current problems with the European Union is citizens from less developed nations emigrating to more prosperous nations for employment opportunities and a better quality of life, causing a brain drain in the primary country and excessive immigration in the secondary country.”

”With a free movement initiative between Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, we would not see such migration patterns as all countries involved are similarly developed with exceptional qualities of life,” he explained further on.

It is just one of a number of ideas that is fighting for attention in the post-Brexit debate as the United Kingdom tries to figure out what its relationship is now with Europe and the rest of the world.

Earlier in September, Ms Julie Bishop, the foreign minister of Australia, stated that the idea of a free movement is something that could possibly be on the table as part of an agreement for a future free-trade with Britain, now being explored by both countries.

”Should we be in a position to conclude a free-trade agreement after Brexit well then obviously [improved access] can be the subject of a free-trade agreement,” said Ms Bishop. ”It is something that we were able to achieve with the United States and I certainly look forward to increasing the number of business visas, student visas, and work visas, between Australia and the United Kingdom.”

Mr Boris Johnson, the Foreign Secretary for the UK, who has long been an advocate of improved access for Australians in the UK, greatly admired the ”almost glutinous” harmony between his home country and Australia. He also once called for a free labour mobility zone between the 2 nations.

Mr Johnson stated that it would be a ”fantastic thing if we had a more sensible system,” even if he no longer promotes free movement.

”You will remember the difficulties we had in recruiting paramedics,” he shared. ”So this is something where I think we can make progress and I am confident that we will.”

In spite of the historical ties between Australia and the UK, since 2008 the number of Australians who live and work in the United Kingdom has significantly decreased by 40 per cent because of migration restrictions.

Mr Alexander Downer, the High Commissioner of Australia, has called for greater access and the plan is greatly supported by majority of citizens in each country. This, according to a Royal Commonwealth Society survey.

According to a YouGov poll that was made earlier this year, 70 per cent of Australians, 75 per cent of Canadians, 82 per cent of New Zealanders, and 58 per cent of the British agree that free mobility is a great idea, with those who are between 18 and 35 years old in Australia and New Zealand who are considered to be the most enthusiastic.

But with about 24 million people in Australia, 34 million in Canada, 4 million in New Zealand, and 64 million people in the UK, how would an arrangement even work?

According to Mr Skinner, the plan is to create a ”single labour market” so that the combined economy can be serviced, which in turn would allow people to freely study and work in any of the 4 Commonwealth nations. This could also be a boon to individuals who are frustrated by delays to being reunified with their family once more.

”With free movement between these nations, families and loved ones would not require visas or work permits, and can be reunited without the cost and stress of arduous immigration controls,” said Mr Skinner.

Those who remain to be critical of the freedom of movement say that it will reduce the sovereignty over national borders which can ultimately lead to criminals and terrorists being able to slip through without being detected.

The idea would also need to overcome a great obstacle in public opinion discovered through the Essential Poll this week. 31 per cent of Australians do not think a free trade deal is a good idea, as they can possibly their jobs to overseas workers.

Source: https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/commonwealth-freedom-of-movement-organisation-wants-free-movement-between-uk-canada-nz-and-australia/news-story/8cec148ebbaa3ebe6c9bea3b2aca6b22