Surprised at you Greg Barns. As Ludwig said Holy Moly, it would appear that this article is actually NOT tongue-in-cheek, but that the author actually believes in what he has written!

Didn't you see the Dick Smith movie.... I take it from there. Especially with focus on Bob Brown's statements followed by Tony Burke.

What’s Wrong with Greg Barns?

Footprints?

http://www.miacat.com/

[Deleted for abuse and poster suspended].

Well said Ericc. You’ve posed a bunch of very pertinent questions.

Greg, it would be great if you were to come back on this thread and partake in the debate.

Pericles
Ludwig and I and many others have put forward ideas to achieve sustainability without resorting to oppressive methods which I think is your main concern if I have read you right. The methods by which sustainability is achieved is equally as important as coming up with what would be a sustainable target.

A one-in-one-out immigration scheme with flexibility depending on skill need and obligation to asylum seekers and less emphasis on middle class welfare in the way of baby bonuses etc.

Aside from the target issue, other ideas for removing congestion in cities has been to develop regional areas that can sustain more people. This can be achieved through better transport (even fast rail) and health/education services to attract people to regional aeras.

As a businessman I can see why you would want population growth but at what cost for short term gain?

Land, water and resources is not a bottomless pit.

The only other way is to let the population growth remain unchallenged and let nature take it's course which I think is eminently more barbaric than increasing education and prospects in the developing world with less tragic impact.

Equally why do you think unsustained growth is a good thing? How will it benefit the wellbeing of people on this planet?

Greg Barns:>> It will instead turn Australia into Japan - a nation in decline because it is suffering from declining population, an ageing society, and a xenophobic attitude to migration.<<

Greg since 1945 6 million people have come to Australia as new settlers. When you extrapolate this figure to first second and third generations since that time you come up with half the population having come originally from other climes in the past 50 years.

My point is the "xenophobic attitude to migration" you bleated about being a lie. Australians with half a brain of all heritages realize that we are the driest continent on earth and that we sit perched like flies on the rim of a saucer on this continent. Sustainability is the issue not xenophobic hatred as you comfortably smear your fellow Aussies with. If you talk xenophobia talk Japan, Middle East, and Africa where you are legally constrained if not a native of that country in the assets you can own and the religious freedoms you enjoy.

If your heart bleeds, let it bleed for us, your fellow Aussies.

This article IS rubbish.
Could Greg have given a moment to elaborate on his ambiguous message "Japan- a nation in decline"? Because I'm not entirely convinced that there is anything particularly profound about the word 'decline' when mentioning Japan at all.

Ageing populationa problem? Debunked, diced and sliced every which way. Reflects attitudes in business worlds, pension timing and priority, and ignoring volunteer work, consumers.

Now this is a beatiful nugget- "innovation" -yes indeed Greg, of course it would be impossible for Australians to 'innovate' to maintain the lifestyle you feel 'selfish' while remedying any economic/social costs, isn't it?
Why, that's why Sweden, Iceland, Norway, Finland, Switzerland, and Singapore are falling so far behind the rest of the world in terms of any form of progress imaginable- oh wait.

And funny you did mention Japan- because they're presently innovating increasingly automated industries to offset labor shortages (and yet at the same time- ways to offset population growth)

Usual trash from a trashy writer, whose only change over the years is an increasingly dishonest position on the matter at hand (this case, utilitarian business lobbyist now- well done Greg).

I'd welcome an article that actually LISTS some innovations to cope with or completely offset the effects of increasing population- sadly that belongs to a thinker (let alone writer) WAY above your caliber Barnsie.