The Forum > Article Comments > Abbott should run a mile from 'Big Australia' policy > Comments
Abbott should run a mile from 'Big Australia' policy : Comments
By John Pasquarelli, published 19/5/2010The main political parties have never consulted with core Australians on multiculturalism, immigration, refugees or citizenship.
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At the same rate of growth, Australia's population in 2050 would be about 32 million.
The current net immigration rate, however, is 451,000 (in the year to September 2009)or 2.1 per cent on a bigger base. At the rate of 450,000 increase per year for the next 40 years, Australia's population in 2050 would be more than 40 million. Again, as the base increases, the actual rate of population growth might be greater, since birth rates are higher in many immigrant communities.
However, birth rates have declined and immigration has increased. Of the 451,000 population increase last year, an estimated 297,000 were immigrants. The impact of such an immigration rate will clearly be greater than in the past.
Worse, immigration both legal and illegal, has skewed towards sources which are manifestly incompatible with western democracies, as the serious Islamist violence in numerous European countries (UK, France, Sweden, the Netherlands,Germany, Belgium, Denmark....)attests.
It's a little appreciated fact that immigration policy in this country is largely influenced by migrants who drive the multi-culti industry (and have done for decades), including from within the Department of Immigration and Citizenship and its predecessors.
Tell us, Mr Rudd, what is the magic formula by which you will prevent the situation here from deteriorating to European levels? Here's a hint: hand-wringing and faux compassion won't work.