We can argue on here, and this will never change, however one very promising aspect is now clear. Only a few months ago when this topic was occasionally discussed it was disappointing to see that none of the political parties would discuss it. Kevin then made his "Big Australia" speech which really cheesed many Australians off. We then had the new Population Minister, then Dick Smith and his population party. Now in the last few days I am seeing people on the streets and at work OPENLY voicing there concerns about population and immigration. What's more the politically correct bullies that often lurk around OLO as well as many other places have felt less inclined to criticize. Let us hope that this trend continues

ozzie, "What's more the politically correct bullies that often lurk around OLO as well as many other places have felt less inclined to criticize. Let us hope that this trend continues."

You are right. It is a pleasure to have a robust debate without the name calling and labelling.

cornflower, The use of "politically correct bullies" is name calling.

Opponents of immigration have had considerable public space for their views since the Blainey debates of the early 1980s.

I can no longer continue with this thread, due to other commitments and interests.

byork, "Opponents of immigration have had considerable public space for their views since the Blainey debates of the early 1980s."

Disagree, the focus then as you must realise was on something entirely different. Your reference to Blainey is completely irrelevant.

Byork, the reference was not aimed at you but to others who regularly lurk around OLO pouncing on anyone who dares to give a politically incorrect point of view. Although I disagree with your arguments, you have given them in a genuine manner ( although obviously you are misguided).

There has not been "considerable public space" to express these points of view. Only in the last few weeks has the whole immigration/population debate opened up politically, although people in the street have been talking about it for much longer.

Ozzie,
Agreed, immigration has not been a topic debated publicly since Bob Hawke PM brokered a deal with the Coalition NOT to debate immigration issues, but allow the government of the day to set policy with no comment from the opposition.

They gave the phoney excuse that immigration was too complicated for us poor electors to comprehend. The truth being that the two major parties could carry on appeasing big industry with high immigration without much critisism. It has not been an election since that deal was done.

It may be the one good thing to come from this election, that immigration has made it back to being an election issue and the polys will have to take note of the wishes of the electorate. We have been treated like mushrooms for too long, on immigration.