Population: Liberals ready to blow their trusty dog whistle

annie says:

06:39am | 09/04/10

Wow yes of course we can trust Labor on infrastructure to manage all the new voter you lot will bring in. Take Queensland for example the last major dams built in SE Qld to supply Brisbane with water were built by Joe Petersen in 1970! And yes now we have a desal plant on the Gold Coast and guess who planned and built that the local council and in the panic of Brisbane running out of water the Labor Government of QLD expanded it and took it over. And don’t start me on managing our money aargh. You lot set a very poor example of Australian politicians with your cheating Family First Tee Shirts and stands in South Australia and your low web site mocking Abbott. I’m sorry but you get a free run from the media in general to there shame. The only good thing about you lot is that interest rates will reach double digits if you get another term and I own my home and have money in cash.

Anthony says:

06:52am | 09/04/10

You obviously don’t drive to the train station to catch a train and read the realestate pages on your way to work. Life in a big city in Australia NOW cannot be compared to what past generations enjoyed. To label Australians as dogs to support your argument will only get you so far minister.  Population growth maybe, sustainability for future generations definitely.

Paul says:

07:35am | 09/04/10

Craig you are just from this blind religon that rampant growth is good. You are messing with a great country and it has changed from being (enjoyably) able to surf at uncrowded beaches or to mad commutes for workers, and tiny, stupidly expensive house blocks in a massive country.

And Craig I think you are full of crap - you say you are pro-small business yet you let big business particularly banking, telecoms, food and fuel cartels to blatantly gouge small business which is especially hard on regionally based small business.To be fair, I expect Abbott will be just as gutless on this front as Labor. Can we expect more empty promises from you this election mate?

Ken says:

07:58am | 09/04/10

Who’s blowing the dog whistle here? And who was blowing the dog whistle before the last election? Time to remove your halo Emerson.

Joe says:

08:16am | 09/04/10

If Tonny Abbott’s talk here is ‘poll driven’, what is Rudd appointing a minister for population without giving any targets? It wouldn’t be just to look like he is doing something without doing anything at all would it? He is good at that… So what is next a Minister for Truth (or is that Conroy)

Ian Matthews says:

08:23am | 09/04/10

A bit rich Mr Pot, to be calling Mr Kettle black. There was a time when issues such as this could be debated openly. Today, as soon as someone sticks his head up out of the trenches, folks like you reach into their cliche bags and slag off at them with the same old worn out epithets.
What is it about politicians Craig, that makes you think that the rest of us are just too stupid to be trusted with open arguments? Why is it that you have to put us down by equating us with dogs?
It’s obvious that your experience with Wayne Goss had more of an impact on you than your time with Bob Hawke and Peter Walsh. You’ve lost me mate.

Mike says:

08:58am | 09/04/10

Isn’t practically everything our politicians do poll driven? The only time they really stand up for the interests of the majority (ie actually do their job) is when the polls tell them they had better do so or else - this population issue being the perfect example.

Joan says:

09:07am | 09/04/10

What a waste of space. How about writing about something you do know - if Labor has the answer how about writing about that instead of this nonsense?  Labor are the people in government and are cluelessso pass the the buck on to Abbott. like in this claptrap piece. Just yesterday in TheAustralian `THE nation’s first Population Minister, Tony Burke, has ruled out setting population targets in the strategy that he will draw up over the next 12 months.` So you expect Abbott to have all th answers yet Labor has no answers and working on it till after the elections.  What a Labor joke.

AdamC says:

09:30am | 09/04/10

Oh no, the ALP is running scared now that they have realised people in voterland are concerned about the impact that a rapidly-growing population will have on our strained infrastructure. It must be time to bring out the hoary old fallacies and label ordinary Australians as racist. Well, not quite. The ordinary Aussies will just be taken in by nasty white supremacist Tony Abbott, who is going to con them by linking asylum seekers to population growth. And he is going to do this by not linking them. How fiendish!

Maybe those people out in voterland will realise that smearing Tony Abbott for something he didn’t say and, in all likelihood, doesn’t believe is quite cynical and ridiculous. They might also resent the implication that they are so inherently prejudiced that all that need happen to whip them up into a racist frenzy is Tony Abbott not saying something on the radio.

Personally, though, I am just happy that we have a productivity minister who is so able to wax pontifical about immigration so eloquently. Because, without immigration as a topic, what would Craig Emerson have to talk about? Where are the policies to increase productivity, Craig?

tyu says:

09:37am | 09/04/10

It seems the only group that wants a ‘big, multicultural Australia’ is the Business Lobby. So, lets start a Facebook group that lists all the businesses that supports a big Australia through mass immigration, and we’ll see how this effects their bottom line.

Chewy says:

09:41am | 09/04/10

Kelvin Thompson for population minster! Seriously Craig you are one my favourite pollies and I say that as a Liberal voter but until you and Kevvy can fix roads, transport, hospitals etc to a standard that can accomodate more people most Australians will not find a big Australia palitable.
It took me 30 minutes to find park at my local shops last Saturday, so perhaps your colleagues in the state Governments goal to make the upper north shore less desirable by ramming as many ALP doners devolpments through as possible is starting to work a treat.

Martin G says:

09:57am | 09/04/10

“Let’s be clear about this – the Coalition’s policy reversal is purely poll driven.”

My goodness, have you seen your boss on TV in the last two-and-a-half years? Talk about pot calling the kettle black!

You go on about skill shortages, skilled migration, blah blah blah. Where are the skilled migrants working on building houses? You are bringing in a net amount of 300,000 people per year, yet our building trades are still stretched beyond capacity, driving up property prices and doubling building times. These same property prices that are being inflated by having too much foriegn investment, locking our children and future generations out of the market.

Population growth is a fear of Australians for legitimate reasons. One of the major reasons is the gross incompetence your Government has shown when it comes to handling infrastructure investment projects (pink batts, BER).

Please get your facts and priorities straight, Mr Emerson. A start would be to quit writing rubbish, petty articles like this and stop leaving our gates so wide open.

Margaret Gray says:

09:54am | 09/04/10

How hilarious that Craig Emerson, he of the anti-development, anti-infrastructure, anti-human and pro-environment Labor Party, can see fit to lecture Australians - and the Liberal Party - on their alleged ‘xenophobia’.

A decade of essential infrastructure spending neglect by Labor governments in our two most populous states makes a mockery of any claims he has to the moral high ground on this issue.

It is precisely his party’s ideological failings that have brought us to the brink of this social dilemma.

And still they have no plan of action.

At least a dog-whistle makes a noise, unlike the fetid, hot air Emerson and his ilk specialise in blowing.

James says:

10:05am | 09/04/10

The whole population issue is a classic example of something that is too important to be left to the politicians.  Exactly what are their qualifications to say what population a good or bad thing?  And as for business, a more biased bunch of commentators you could not find.

In this debate, as in the climate debate, the last people people listen to are the people most qualified to comment.  I.e. the academics and scientists who have the greatest grasp on all of the variables.

Why the hell do we even listen to a bunch of lawyers shooting their mouth of about things they really don’t understand.  Exactly what are Tony Bourkes qualifications to make him a guru on population?  I think he merely parrots lines that are fed to him.

Wayne Fehlhaber says:

10:05am | 09/04/10

We import the downside as well as the upside with current migrant intakes.
When authorities attempt to control , neutralise , halt ethnic unrest or bad behaviour, we are subject to international criticism and false indignance from bleeding hearts. We need to attract our skilled immigrants from quality sources that have no inbred ethnic hatreds or violent tendencies. Australia was built on the backs of skilled people who migrated to this country in the fifties . They came to our country and assimmilated into our communities
without any of the problems associated with current migrant intakes.
The current government should take a good look at the ability of young Australians struggling to build homes and raise families . The economic and social aspects of raising children are daunting to say the least.  Natural increases in our population need to be encouraged by paying some attention to our own difficulties in contributing to Australia’s population growth.  Yes , we need more skilled migrants here , but lets pay a little attention to the qualitiy of those being considered as good for Australia.

Julia says:

10:00am | 09/04/10

Woof.

Randal says:

10:35am | 09/04/10

When it comes to immigration and illegal migration, the ALP is all spin and no policy, you have a crisis on your hands according to the UN with thousands preparing to dodge the waiting and head across the ocean from Indonesia, a crisis caused by your own inept policies.

Now is the time Craig to stop pointing the finger so falsely at the Opposition who have consistently held the policy belief of tough border protection to stop the people smugglers and a managed migration intake in line with the required infrastructure… pretty much what Abbott said I would have thought.

Now it’s time for the ALP to declare its hand.

How is the Prime Minister going to “turn the boats back” as he boldly declared before the 2007 election?
How big a “policy failure” has the change to assessing asylum seekers been based on Gillards pre election assertion “Another boat another policy failure” - is that now 100 failures of policy for this government?
Where does the government stand on population and migration - are they the party of “Big Australia” as declared by the Prime Minister?
Why is the government burying their response to the Intergenerational Report until after the next election?

These are the questions being asked by a concerned nation of its government, we want to know what the government plan is to combat the growing flood of asylum seekers that has been caused by their shift in a policy that was working and where this government stands on population and migration growth before the election not after.

So tell us Craig, can this government stop the spin to actually implement a policy, or do we just suffer through more spin from the ALP PR machine.

I fear the later is closer to the truth and at least on this issue the people will see right through it.

Margaret says:

10:46am | 09/04/10

I agree with Craig Emmerson, although I don’t know why this fits in his portfolio rather than the Minister for Population?

I agree because I read the same PM’s spin doctor’s release, and will parrot it word for word as every ALP Front Bencher will today in their grabs as well.

$100 says every single ALP Front Bencher says “dog whistle” at least once in their TV grabs today.

Anyway, us Inner City Latte Lefties support you Craig. Anyone who disputes your view must be a racist.

It’s not like we Latte Lefties in the inner city will be affected by the groaning infrastructure, housing shortage and prices beyond most reach, crime and other problems from a failure to integrate, and everything else that comes with your immigration policy.

We need the house cleaners, the rocketing value of my terrace house, and I also want to add some colour to little Daisy’s playgroup friends so I can talk about my Somali friend at my next dinner party.

John says:

10:58am | 09/04/10

For some reason there is an unwillingness of the vast majority of people to do simple math and take seriously the problems of exponential growth in population. This is not just the man in the street, it includes individuals who otherwise might be considered highly educated. There is no reason to suppose
that economic growth cannot continue for another 2500
years.” (Wilfred Beckerman 1972). Assuming “slow” economic
growth at a little over one percent per year. But the puppet masters of Labor and Liberal parties, Big Business want none of that. It’s there duty to make sure that the 1% of the worlds wealthy is made richer regardless.

For decades our idiot politicians have largely ignored population
growth and related issues, especially patterns of rising
consumption and their environmental effects. Since
then make collapse now seem ever more likely and possibly
sooner than even many pessimists think.

Super D says:

11:40am | 09/04/10

Has anyone else noticed that whatever the issue is it’s alway the Liberals position that gets made the issue?  The fact that they are opposing is the issue, not what they are opposing or why they are wrong.  This government seems to be incapable of clearly enunciating their vision on any topic - perhaps its the decade they spen in opposition has left them with this mindset?

Mark says:

11:31am | 09/04/10

“Go into just about any restaurant in an Australian capital city and you are likely to be served by a young person on a working holiday.  And who runs restaurants?  Small business owners, that’s who.”

Show me the figures that back this up. This is a lie and self serving in the extreme to toss this out there as a bone for the dogs to chew on. Making stuff up to support an argument simply nulls the rest of anything you have to say.

“the Coalition’s policy reversal is purely poll driven”

What policy. Show me the paper. You take a comment out of context and try to project as a Liberal policy. Your Leader said it mate - not Abbott. Don’t try to put words into other peoples mouths. You start with a false premise so you end up with garbage.

“Mr Abbott wants to link in the minds of former Howard battlers the asylum seeker issue with a growing population, tapping into community anxiety about urban congestion and water scarcity.”
Yyah he does. You want 35 or 36 million people mate. Krudd wants it. How are you going to manage it? Fair question in my opinion mixed with good politics. Answer please.

“air-brushing from history John Howard’s shameful effort of 1988 to harvest votes by claiming there was too much Asian immigration. “

Oh yawn. Lets play the racist card shall we? The arguments are old tired and boring. Been answered before. Useless attack is useless - but hey we wouldn’t want you to be a hypocrite and use political attacks and tricks to divert attention from somewhere else now would we.

“And a lot more Aussie expatriates came home – some for that same reason that Australia was doing a lot better than the countries in which they were working.”

Show me the figures proving this. Can’t be bothered to look. Firstly the numbers and then what research backs up your claim. I call shenanigans - where the hell did I put my broom. Stop making stuff up just because it sounds good. “Some” hahahaha. what 1 or 2. or 99%.

“In an election year the Liberals are not going to let the truth get in the way of a good vote-getting story.”

Well we wouldn’t want to let you get away with that either. See previous comments about restaurant staff and ex-pats reason for return. Prove either. Is that the sound of a door slamming as you run away?

“Ask the Australian people whether there should be more or less immigration and a majority will always say less.”

Yeh what would we know. Why would you want to listen to us? Krudd knows it all and sends you out to defend it. Thanks for the vote of confidence in the Australian peoples intelligence. if the majority always say less why not do it?

“But successive governments have acted in the national interest in supporting an immigration program that meets Australia’s long-term needs.  Not any more, if Mr Abbott becomes Prime Minister.”

Prove the last part. Just more rhetoric and lies.

“Skill shortages and general labour shortages are likely…”

Are likely. Prove it. Then actually tell us how you are going to manage this “Big Australia”. Go on. Before the next election.

All Labor has is a thought bubble of Krudd’s and now is madly tossing out lies and the usual blame game/race card tricks it normally deploys when it wants to divert attention from its own failures.

(typed quickly at work forgive the 234,567 errors I am sure are there)

Is there any chance of getting Craig to answer and back up his assertions with facts?

Willy K says:

12:20pm | 09/04/10

Ermerson.  Why is this a Liberal issue?  You are in government - do something about it.

Pathetic blame game politics from a weak willed pillow.  Man up you goose.

Shane From Melbourne says:

12:21pm | 09/04/10

Yawn, Liberal or Labor they have both ratcheted up immigration levels over the past couple of decades. Till a month ago both parties were in favor of “big australia”. We don’t decide who comes to Australia- Kiwis can come over here anytime they like. As for ex pats, at the very least they should have to get a re-entry visa if they have been away from Australia for over a year. Country shopping is not very patriotic.

James McLorral says:

12:42pm | 09/04/10

Mass immigration only benefits businesses towards the high end of town. Everyday Australians have very little benefit. Instead, they are slapped in the face with massive congestion, huge social cohesion issues and being out priced in housing. These are the realities of a `big Australia`. Rudd is wRong.

Passing Wind says:

01:05pm | 09/04/10

This is just another example of “Bojangles” Emerson’s song & dance routine. The main skill shortage appears to be in the Labor Cabinet.

Bryan says:

01:13pm | 09/04/10

Craig, as the Minister for Small Business, may I ask one question. What have you done for Small Business? Interest rates are rising and small businesses are struggling to gets loans refinanced or simply cannot get money from banks. What has the Government done for us? The paper work keeps increasing as profits dwindle. Dog whistle you say - why not concentrate on the areas that you have been charged with instead of venturing into the political minefield that you are dipping you feet into. Playing the race card, is not something I thought you would stoop to – it is not a good look. I would expect you know Tony Abbott well enough to know that he does not have a racist bone in his body. Quite the opposite in fact. Intimating to Australians that Abbott is this way inclined is a severe distortion of reality.

hugh says:

01:14pm | 09/04/10

When houses were burning down, Garrett was dumped, 500mil in recovery costs etc were being noted for insulation checks, Labor blew their own dog whistle - health

I rejigged the last paragraph to show what i mean:
“Playing on voter fears of hospital closures and increased healthcare costs is politically opportunistic and, based on past efforts we should not be surprised that the Labor Party is reverting to type, but it is certainly not in the national interest.”

I dont give a rats arse about either issue, but politicians really should try and not be so stupid

Ian F says:

02:31pm | 09/04/10

Perhaps not being a Cabinet Minister (but rather in the ‘outer Ministry’), Dr Emerson might have been out of the loop when today’s Government policy shift to try to stem the tide of unauthorised arrivals from Afghanistan and Sri Lanka was being decided. 

Forget about the ‘dog whistle’; this is more akin to a monkey that wasn’t forewarned by the organ grinder that the tune was about to change.

cynic says:

03:14pm | 09/04/10

Earth to space man craig. Your time is up & it’s time to come in. The debate is on numbers with even saint kevein now backing away from his non-commiment to 35 million.

As for costello, his intergenerational reprots on out aging population are correct as confirmed by labor’s version this year. We need skilled workers from overseas to help us be productive in future years. The libs want that as we do as labor do. Your point is then????, Politics to one side.

I recall your prop “the cat” in federal parliament when in opposition. Not a good look then & you seemed to have learnt little from then.

Saskia says:

03:33pm | 09/04/10

What a statesman.

Not.

Helen says:

04:16pm | 09/04/10

Well Mr. Emerson - the chickens have certainly come home to roost - but I always new they would.  Slowly but surely you have all been found out.  Incompetent, inept and totally out of your depth and unfit to be the Government of this great land.

Australia has a seriously flawed PM & Cabinet who quite obviously do not have a clue how to run their Portfolos let alone the country.

Everything Federal Labor has touched has turned into a fiasco that has cost the taxpayers of this country millions and millions of dollars and will continue to do so.

The behavour of the Labor party stooges in the SA Election result and the behaviour of the Electoral Commission in condoning this behaviour is just beyond belief.  Hardly worthwhile voting is it - what a disgrace.

Just remember Mr. Emerson - “you can fool some of the people some of the time - but not all of the people all of the time.”

We are more aware of what is going on than you give us credit for - roll on the next election - can’t come soon enough for me.

Freeman says:

04:35pm | 09/04/10

Mr Emerson,
I guess this whole article was to divert attention from labors recent backflips on
a) a population of 35 mil by 2050, &
b) your position on afgan and sri lankan assylum seekers?
don’t get me wrong, i support both of these labor backflips, I just think at labor has taken it’s hypocrisy to an all new level.
Labor seems to have developed a new tactic of pre-empting critiscism that it knows is coming. Labor knows they will cop a flogging over this so they seek to apply this criticism to the libs before it hits the fan for them, and they don’t care in the slightest if this seems hypocritical

acotrel says:

04:50pm | 09/04/10

People should compare the populationnumbers in Indonesia with that in Australia.  Then compare the available land space and resources.

Overflow says:

05:21pm | 09/04/10

Oh Craig I hope you were consulted on your boss’ backflip on asylum seekers this afternoon, so who is Rudd whistling to today??  Surely the situation hasn’t changed in the last 24 hours? 

Everytime I see your face on another interview it reminds me of the over eager employee looking for a pay rise or better job, seriously how many interviews do you actually give that are related to your portfolio?

Aikon says:

05:26pm | 09/04/10

I look forward to your next contribution to The Punch Mr Emmerson, you know, like the home insulation scheme, fuel watch, BER, grocery watch, the NBN and of course taking on the Japanese over whaling.
In the short time Labour have been in government, it has become crystal clear to me that thier policies are shamelessly driven by polls alone.  Labour = Hypocracy of the highest order.

Futureproof says:

06:51pm | 09/04/10

You’re the labor small business minister, so shouldn’t you run away and, you know, turn big businesses into small business - something labor are good at

Jim says:

07:20pm | 09/04/10

“Playing on voter fears of asylum seekers and population growth is politically opportunistic and, based on past efforts we should not be surprised that the Liberal Party is reverting to type, but it is certainly not in the national interest”
You hypocrite Emerson, if that isn’t exactly what Rudd has just done with his asylum seeker policy then I’m an elephant. This tops anything I’ve seen from Abbott mate.

Bruce says:

10:16pm | 09/04/10

Show me a politician who does not listen to the public, and I will show you a past politician.

agblaster says:

07:00am | 10/04/10

Pretty well says it all, really.
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/growing-pains-trouble-rudd-in-big-australia-20100409-rynu.html
Debate? We sure need one, but debate this aint.

Linda says:

07:20am | 10/04/10

Rudd uses “Push Factors” to suit his own political agenda. Showing his true colours. Obviously Rudd is rattled and in panic mode. So much for his moral high ground he preaches from. At least Abbott and the Libs have a constant and genuine stance on border protection. Now who’s playing the “boat people” card Emerson? You and your Government really are full of yourselves.

Anthony says:

08:01am | 10/04/10

The dogs have been whistled to in your own party Emerson. Seems you were right we are all dogs

Accountability says:

08:22am | 10/04/10

Clearly Kevin Rudd is a legal illiterate and morally bankrupt. He plans to breach Australia’s International Obligations under the 1951 Refugee Convention and to discriminate against certain groups based on race. This is absolutely shameful. The man is no better than Howard. My vote is decided. I am voting Green and will not preference Labor.

bill says:

09:18am | 10/04/10

Here is an example of Craig Emerson using the dog whistle calling on people to start calling those against “a big Australia” racist. While he doesn’t say it himself he is simply insulting those that have real concern about the social cost of running Rudds high immigration policy. The cowardice of Rudd hiding behind his new population minister is astounding. Please don’t elect a former diplomat again they are too concerned with appearances to do the right thing. It is also pity Ruddy couldn’t do it right with his dog whistle (increase the population through fear of invasion) the old populate or perish argument is long dead more like populate and perish. With his line (in the “I believe in a big Australia” statement) “I think it’s good for us; it’s good for our national security long term;” What he hasn’t said is that he has ceded immigration policy to the business lobby since the GFC scared the **** out of him he let all the rabbits run loose including our wombat hugging economic saviour Ken Henry manning the Keynesian pump. He was without a care to what would eventually happen and now he is busy painting this panic as considered policy change.

bill says:

09:59am | 10/04/10

Here is an example of Craig Emerson using the dog whistle calling on people to start calling those against “a big Australia” racist. While he doesn’t say it himself he is simply insulting those that have real concern about the social and environmental cost of running Rudds high immigration policy. The cowardice of Rudd hiding behind his new population minister is astounding. Please don’t elect a former diplomat again they are too concerned with appearances and photo opportunities to do the right thing. It is also pity for the ALP that Ruddy couldn’t do it right with his own dog whistle (increase the population through fear of invasion) the old populate or perish argument is long dead more like populate and perish. With his line (in the “I believe in a big Australia” statement) “I think it’s good for us; it’s good for our national security long term;” What he hasn’t said is that he has ceded immigration policy to the business lobby since the GFC scared the crap out of him he let all the rabbits run loose including our wombat hugging economic saviour Ken Henry manning the Keynesian pump. He was without a care to what would eventually happen and now he is busy painting this panic as considered policy change.

Toady says:

11:12am | 10/04/10

“Ask the Australian people whether there should be more or less immigration and a majority will always say less.”  -  Who would have thunk it!  The majority of Australians get ignored again.  But Kevin Rudd governs because he has a MANDATE!  To fix the health system, to remove Workchoices, to be tough on border protection (remember the election promise - ‘we will turn the boats around’, then promptly encouraged more to arrive by changing the law)  Well Mr Emerson, you go and tell your grubby little boss that the MAJORITY of Australians want less migration and that, surprise, surprise… the MAJORITY equals a MANDATE!  While you’re at it, tell Rudd that in the best interests of the country, he should make it compulsory that ALL people have a minimum amount of private health cover (even dole bludgers - take it out of their dole payments), that no-one should be entitled to unemployment benefits after six months of being out of work (because there’s plenty of work to go around), that the disability entitlements be taken from the majority who have no real disability, that people should be able to tip in as much money into their super each year as they can afford to enable self-sufficiency in retirement, oh….. where does one stop!  In short, Craig, it’s about time your little boss started conveying the message to people that it is up to the individual to provide for oneself and not the government, or the millions he wants to bring in to prop up the welfare brigade.  You sound like a fool on the radio, and you prove yourself to be a fool through your writing.

Harquebus says:

11:39am | 10/04/10

Tell us Craig, putting aside water and energy shortages, what affect will oil depletion have on our ability to support a larger population?

Linda says:

04:47pm | 10/04/10

I’m trying to work out if Emerson has too much botox or if he’s had a bad face lift. Maybe he’s been blowing his dog whistle too hard? Whatever floats your boat I suppose.

jg says:

11:49am | 11/04/10

Hey Mr Emerson, how’s the dog whistling today?

Must be difficult to look into the mirror after you Rudd’s flip flop.

acotrel says:

08:33am | 13/04/10

In area the United Kindom would fit into Victoria.
According to the 2001 census, the total population of the United Kingdom was 58,789,194.  You lot are talking about a projected population of 35 million for the whole of Australia?  GET REAL ! !