How many is too many? Australia's people problem
William Burke, National Times
February 18, 2010
 Our high population growth, so beloved of both major parties, is straining resources and has turned the great Australian dream into a nightmare of haves and have-nots, says William Bourke. |
Our high population growth, so beloved of both major parties, is straining resources and has turned the great Australian dream into a nightmare of haves and have-nots, says William Bourke.
Australia is an open and tolerant country with a rich history in migration. But it is an illusion that Australia can absorb many more millions.
Even a basic assessment shows that Australia's more recent high population growth causes or exacerbates many of our major economic, environmental and social problems. Yet successive federal governments push it higher and higher.
There is no consulting the electorate. No real democracy. Most of our population growth is driven by a high level of immigration. This is something that the federal government directly controls.
We know that Kevin Rudd favours "a big Australia", with a population of 36 million by 2050. It was only a few years ago that the official 2050 projection was 23, then 28 million. The current growth rate would actually take us to about 45 million. What happens after 2050 on this slippery slope?
