When Australia started taking in Migrants to build up the number of citizens in the 50s they had no choice, the reason, the huge number of young men sent overseas to fight for Briton in the first war and who never returned, so the population didn't grow fast enough. As for just taking in economic migrants, no, people still had to pass a selection panel. I remember one case where a young couple with a five years old daughter was rejected as she was blind, despite the parents wanting to sign a document that they would look after her for life. And if anyone thought it was a piece of cake, try living in a Nissan hut in an old army camp in the middle of an Aussie summer. After around twelve months ships were full on the return trip, around 150,000 returned to the UK in the first five years. Can't see those immigrants in the UK doing that.
Des