The federal government has defended high migration levels, after the RBA suggests closed borders are creating pockets of wage growth David Adams Brendon Thorne/Getty Images The federal government has defended Australia's historic immigration levels after Reserve Bank of Australia governor Philip Lowe commented on the ties between migrant labour and wages. As the international border remains closed, keeping many skilled workers out of Australia, the Department of Home Affairs pointed to research showing migrant labour had little negative impact on wages. But Lowe only said wage growth has been experienced in specific "hotspots", as "wage increases remain modest for most workers."