The last few years have seen a transformation of the scale, characteristics and significance of international population movements. There has been a massive increase in global movement and an increase in the complexity of the types of movement--permanent and temporary, legal and illegal, forced and voluntary. Graeme Hugo argues that much of the thinking and research on immigration in Australia neglects this new reality. International migration has been and remains a crucial component of Australia's economic, social and cultural development. It is important that policy is informed by research and thinking that takes full cognizance of the changed international context.