Thanks for the much needed injection of levity FG!

Julia Gillard has her finger firmly on the pulse by again attacking 'Big Australia' and the record immigration targets and social disruption that go with it. She has entirely wrong-footed the LNP and Greens who were rather hoping to sit back and snipe about 'boat people':

" No 'top-gear' rush to population growth: Gillard
July 18, 2010 - 1:43PM

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has again voiced her opposition to a ‘big Australia’, saying it is the responsibility of government to take control of the nation’s future.

In her first full day on the campaign trail, Ms Gillard used a speech in Brisbane to expand on her vision for a sustainable approach to population growth.

One of Ms Gillard’s first actions after replacing Kevin Rudd was to reject his notion that Australia’s population was set to hit 36 million by 2050."

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-election/no-topgear-rush-to-population-growth-gillard-20100718-10fqo.html

So far, Tony Abbott avoided any responsibility for deciding immigration numbers, making the Productivity Commission responsible for that(!). Mr Abbott's weasel words in reply were:

"What I completely reject is that we should just take for granted that we’re going to bring in 180,000 or 300,000, which are the current figures, year-in year-out come what may, until 2050 and beyond."

Hey Graham, once again I have to say I find your statements to be a little 'peculiar'. Admittedly, I'm not the sharpest tool in Daddy's shed...
“...the two forms of equality are one of the classic dividers between the left and right of politics...”
I had to read this twice before I ventured the assumption that you were referring to a notion of 'labor equality' versus 'Liberal equality'. Correct? Considering the number of factions within both parties, some of which tend to overlap on various issues, I'm not sure I would propose “two forms of equality” as an immutable philosophical principle.
I also regard your claim of Liberal sovereignty 'across the ages' as a trifle disingenuous; particularly as both the major streams have been performing an 'allemande right' for the past 2 or 3 decades.
Indeed, by today's standards I would contend that 2 of the Liberals 'great' P.M.s, Bob Menzies and Malcolm Fraser, would be considered a little bit 'left wing'; particularly on this issue of immigration.
On the question of whether or not this will be an election issue, I have to say (again) I am finding it harder and harder to distinguish between the policies, or governing philosophies of the Liberal/Laborals. So, if it is an issue, I think it will be the issue of driving more humanitarians towards the Greens; particularly if Gillard is genuine in letting the discussion become less PC, -ie letting the 'rednecks' have their say.
Which, of course, they should.

Cornflower,
You are aware that the major parties have an agreement NOT to debate immigration matters?

The PM must be very close to breaking that deal as immigration is very much part of how much population we obtain.

Maybe the Opposition is reluctant to engage as it could be said they are breaking the deal.

I for one, would welcome the deal be broken as it is way past time the public became involved in population/immigration debate and it became an election issue.

For too long both major parties have pandered to big business who desire high immigration.

We have been treated like mushrooms for years.

Banjo, it looks as though the 'mushroom factor' with discussing immigration might have been lifted.

‘Gillard, Abbott in race to keep population growth under control’

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/in-depth/gillard-abbott-in-race-to-keep-population-growth-under-control/story-fn5rizbk-1225893658727

It looks like Julia is going to include a referendum with this election. Maybe that's a good thing, but lets have it a a number of issues not just "services for working families" Refugees, Asylum seekers, illegal entrants, abortion, Political donations, water management, single education for Australia, just to name a few. This then will tell the Pollies just Australians demand they fix & fix fast and in the way Australians want it fixed.

My solution to deal with illegal entrants is to make visitors to Australia tick a box on Australian Visa Application Form saying that they will not claim asylum when they arrive in Australia.