"There is going to be enormous pressure from Africa and Asia for people to move to the 'Democratic West ….".

Well, we will have to stop that; but, at the moment, countries like Australia are committing cultural,economic and environmental suicide with mass immigration and multiculturalism.i

Doesn't always happen, but on this occasion ttbn and I are of one voice.

Anyone can see that, even at 5m population, the west-east divides of Sydney and Melbourne have created monumental COVID divides and distresses. People repetitively dying at home of COVID just shouldn't happen in a rich nation.

And yet, it is uncontested LibLab policy to push net migration to all-time highs post COVID, and grow Sydney and Melbourne to 8m apiece. It's madness.

Homo Sapiens is in plague proportions.
Nothing will change.
The future is grim.

What should we in the west do!? Well, as the least self-reliant economy in the developed world! We need to focus first and foremost on robust self-reliance! To the exclusion of all else!

Or maybe, develop coal-fired submarines and warships?

Given, if a state of war or invasion becomes a reality and that seems more likely daily? Our supplies of diesel and petrol would run out in weeks, even if reserved exclusively for the military! Or the conduct of a war!

And given that eventuality? The moat that now works for us, would work against us! As does our absurd reliance on tourism and foreign students! This needs to change and if the fools on the hill can't or WON'T see that? Then they need to be changed and replaced by folk that do!

We need investors that will invest in niche manufacturing, not evermore bricks and mortar!

And given that is so! Then all the tax breaks and negative gearing capital gains tax holidays etc-etc. Need to be transferred to new manufacturing start-ups/self-reliance, self-sufficiency and value-adding of all income-earning exports!

Alongside a completely reformed tax system that looks like an unavoidable, 15% flat tax, above a very generous tax-free threshold, on all profits and income earned here!

If we become the most southern state of China? Then the sacrosanct GBR would soon give up its possible gas and oil reserves!

And where we should now be heading, ditto our Antarctic territories!

But only if the extremely vociferous, tiny minority, anti-nuclear brigade continues to hold us spellbound to our self imposed, anti-nuclear moratorium! Just so the Major parties now captured by that latte sipping minority can win a seriously few votes!
Alan B.

Footnote. And coal-fired jet fighters and bombers! Or learn how to make petrol and diesel and jet fuel substitutes from coal!

Oh sorry, we've known how to do that since WW11! Or using surplus nuclear power and proven science, turn inexhaustible seawater into endlessly sustainable fuel supplies!

The unstoppable Nazi war machine was defeated by lack of fuel and little else!

Something to focus the mind on as China surrounds us in our island continent! Maybe she sees the least self-reliant economy in the developed world as a pushover and easy target?

That being so, we need to become a nuclear-armed nuclear power with a nuclear-powered economy!

Remember, it is always easier to beg forgiveness than to get permission!
Alan B.

There is an issue i.e. the Worldometer data is based upon UNPD population data which has been challenged by researchers, while the UNPD is not the only source of demographic or population analysis.

Bricker & Ibbitson who researched and wrote 'Empty Planet' based upon local demographic researchers and data suggested that the UNPD data was both inexplicable and unexplained, while the UNPD would not respond to queries.

The issue is that the main population driver nations of India and China, plus other nations e.g. Kenya, have stalled and declining fertility rates due to education and empowerment of women.

However, the UNPD's analysis has fertility dropping, then rising again mid century to just below replacement i.e. about 2, which then keeps higher end of century estimates in the ball game.

In fact, according to Bricker & Ibbitson, plus other researchers, global population is expected to peak by mid century, but Brocker & Ibbitson go further in predicting precipitous decline... backgrounded by late Prof. Hans Rosling explaining that we have already passed peak fertility and now observing ageing and increased longevity driving most growth e.g. Royal family of four generations.