There are two population debates going on in Australia.

The first is the public debate that has inundated the media in recent weeks; all about forecasts, sustainability, infrastructure, economics, demographics and really serious-sounding matters.

The second is the subterranean debate that’s rarely discussed in public because it contains two unpalatable truths that require … oxymoron coming … really careful handing by politicians and media.

Unpalatable Truth #1: The majority of Australians are opposed to meaningful population growth, dislike the idea of high levels of immigration and want political refugees refused entry. These unfortunate attitudes are supported in poll after poll — this one and this one in recent days and weeks.

Unpalatable Truth #2: There is private acknowledgement among government and strategic decision-makers that Australia has a moral responsibility, as the richest and most underpopulated nation in the Asian region, to be seen to be growing its population and assuming its share of humanitarian migration. This is partly because of the terrible optics of a fortress Australia approach, and partly because such an approach is so out of sync with population trends in our region that it could generate enough resentment among our neighbours to present a serious security risk to Australia.

Bob Carr: Why our cities will really choke with population growth

admin /4 April, 2010

Bob Carr: Why our cities will really choke with population growth by former NSW premier Bob Carr The debate is not about immigration and its benefits. We all believe in them — Australia is a migrant nation. The debate is not about multiculturalism and it’s not about the source of migrants. The debate is about whether immigration should Continue Reading →

South East Queensland population growing too fast

admin /16 March, 2010

ABC News © Enlarge photo Related Links Qld 0.02 limit would be BBQ stopper: LNP March 14, 2010, 4:19 pm No support for cut to drink driving limit March 14, 2010, 2:02 pm Rudd weighs into drink-driving debate March 14, 2010, 11:20 pm Brisbane’s CLEM7 tunnel opening March 15, 2010, 4:42 pm Qld mining industry Continue Reading →

Congestion the ulimate cost of people ingestion

admin /1 March, 2010

Congestion the ultimate cost of people ingestion

February 28, 2010

 

Article Available at: http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/politics/congestion-the-ultimate-cost-of-people-ingestion-20100227-pa9u.html

Feedback can be provided at: sundayopinion@theage.com.au; letters@theage.com.au; or http://www.theage.com.au/national/letters/submit

In the 1990s, former NSW premier Bob Carr famously declared that Sydney was ”full” and his government wouldn’t be releasing any more land to accommodate new migrants.

Carr’s concerns were perfectly understandable, but his response was misguided. He had no control over federal migration policies, only planning. So the city’s population continued to swell within its existing boundaries, contributing to the mess we see today.

Evans silent signal on immigration

admin /8 February, 2010

Monday, 8 February 2010 / 19 comments

Evans’ silent signal on 
immigration

by Bernard Keane    (CRIKEY)

The money line from Chris Evans this morning in announcing changes to the skilled migration program was that this was about  “taking back control of our immigration program”. The announcement is a big step in the Government’s pre-emptive attempt to ensure immigration does not turn against it in an election year.  Unlike with climate change, the Government won’t be caught out thinking it owns an issue that is starting to damage it. The Opposition has taken its time finding its line on the issue, partly because Scott Morrison is new to the portfolio.  Kevin Andrews in fact beat him to the punch, calling for an 85% slashing of immigration as soon as he returned to the front bench.  Since then, Tony Abbott has been unclear on the issue, talking about how he “instinctively” favours high immigration but more recently emphasising the need for a sustainable population.  Andrews ran a huge immigration program when in Government, much to the delight of business, which reflexively supports a growing population. Meantime, both sides of politics have had a march stolen on them by the likes of Dick Smith, who has been spruiking for a new political party to cut immigration — again on the basis of “sustainability”. «« 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 »»