Population
The political class is on a collision course with the punters they are elected to represent over the issue of population growth, because they are failing to engage the public in a meaningful, mature debate.
While the major political parties have signed up to the official long-term projections of 36 million by 2050, the public overwhelmingly thinks that’s way too many. In response, the politicians bat on with the reflexive response “There is No Alternative”.
This dissonance highlights much that is wrong with our political system. It also opens up big opportunities for both the extreme Right and the environmental Left over the coming years.
Continue reading "Tell us again why we need population growth" »
Who knew the lower north shore of Sydney was a hunting ground for anti-immigrationists. This flyer popped up in mail boxes last weekend in more than one apartment block, in more than one suburb. Unauthorised of course, and probably the work of a nutter.
But it’s an election year, and these things don’t tend to happen in a vacuum. During the next six months there’ll be a lot more of this rubbish peddled by those outside the political mainstream.
Scott Morrison has requested we be able to debate immigration without labeling people racist. That’s more than fair. But keeping the debate clean is a two way street.
Continue reading "Want to lose “racist” from the debate, lose the racism" »
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J Citizen says:
“Lose the racism”? The leaflet never had any, and you still call it racist anyway. You call it “rubbish/garbage” from a “nutter”. But let’s not have any name-calling, eh? Read more »
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Craig Hendry says:
It is always a concern when people (population) is viewed as a problem rather than a solution, and “policy” is formed from that type of perspective. Read more »
Immigration has held a special place in the fears of many Australians but the figures tell a different story to that told by Liberal MP Kevin Andrews in his recent post on The Punch.
The data on asylum seekers and refugees in particular provides some much needed perspective on the current national debate.
When Mr Andrews informed Punch readers of the latest migration figures of 173,290 permanent migrants, he neglected to mention that in the last year of the Howard Government the number of permanent migrants to Australia reached 184,438.
Continue reading "Counterpunch: the figures on refugees tell the story" »
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Andrew Smith says:
Population figures are artifically high, and based on recent arrivals who may have applied for permanent, or temporary residency up to three years ago…..during boom times. Credible population projection for 2050 is 28 million from the Population Reference Group basedon ABS data. Raw population data includes long term WHV tourists… Read more »
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Craig says:
For those who advocate open borders. When do you say enough? - factoring in cultural impact upon host society (the Australia that exists now would be radically changed and along with that, institutions which keep our nation stable, our (your) way of life.), infrastructure, environment (water anyone? - carbon emissions?… Read more »
Why is the Rudd government hell-bent on bringing more and more people to Australia?
In 2007-08, 173,290 people permanently migrated to Australia. In addition, there were another 544,000 temporary migrants to the country, excluding the five million visitors. That’s close to three-quarters of a million extra people residing here in a year.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Net Overseas Migration contributed 60.6 per cent of Australia’s population growth in 2008, compared to 39.4 per cent contributed by natural increase.
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Peter says:
It won’t hurt to bring in plenty more refugees because they’re in pretty bad situations. As long as we only take enough in so we’ll have the ideal population. Read more »
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Don Clark says:
Mr Andrews has misrepresented the state of migration to Australia and conveniently forgets to mention by how much net migration was allowed to continue increasing over the term of the former conservative Government of which he was a member. Sadly for him the facts are part of the national store… Read more »
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