For the pro growth lobby I have a suggestion. As has been pointed out on this and other threads there is plenty of space in Australia, there are places that have not ever been settled. Lets pick a few places like Birdsville, Meekatharra,Kalgoorlie,Alice Springs and points in between for the developers to build their new cities. On the understanding that they are to live there them selves and all new migrants are to proceed there as soon as they have been welcomed to Australia and are not to leave in any circumstances.
I am sure that they will love living with all that space around them just begging for developers to build Macmansions for all. I also hear that there is land going for the asking in the Sahara, Gobi and other choice locations that they might want to investigate.
Good on yer Dick. I do not mind at all that you have made a quid. At least you are trying to do some good with it, unlike certain West Australian Billionaires who want even more tax relief.

Shockadelic, it is entirely possible for a multicultural society to be cohesive hence Dick Smith's comments are not contradictory.

All it requires is for Australia to pursue a melting pot multicultural policy rather than a salad bowl one.

Low annual immigration intakes and an expectation that immigrants will 'fit in' means that they will be unlikely to band together and form parallel sub-cultures as is happening at present with our high immigration intake.

If you have an invitation only party then chances are the party will run smoothly and harmoniously. But if you have an open invitation for all comers then chances are your party will end up turning into a brawl. Same principal with immigration.

Poirot,

According to Camille Paglia, if things had been left up to women we'd all still be living in grass huts! Huh?

Well then, Camille Paglia has never heard lada gaga, katy perry or even Tyra McBanks and is obviously living under a Hareem rock just like YOU.

As for being amused and entertained by the TRUTH of a world living unsustainably on the driving force of multilateral sexual conquest, that's a lie because you are patently outraged. As outraged as swine being fed pearls. Your unsustainable world is coming to an end and women are going to have to pull their weight when it comes to sacrificing some of their precious EQUAL? right to have all the environment destroying children and grandchildren that their LUST for POWER craves and their skill at deceit continues to execute to the impoverishment of every living thing on this planet.

Herbert, herbet, herbert!

Clearly you are not science educated!

Even farmers understand the concept of 'carrying capacity' despite generally not being science educated at the university level.

Ever been out side of your urban universe Herbert?

Most of Australia is desert, semi arid or otherwise unsuitable for agriculture. Hence Australia's long term carrying capacity is low.

Only 6% of Australia is suitable for agriculture and, even with oil derived fertilisers, our production is quite low by world standards. Our agriculture is extremely vulnerable to unpredictable drought and flood cycles.

What do you think is going to happen Herbert when our entire food production is consumed in Australia and the next drought or flood cycle cuts our agricultural production for a few years? Idiot!

Apart from the fact that the third world will no longer get food exports from Australia thus increasing starvation there.

As Victorian are seeing from the Wontaggi Desalination Plant debacle, desalination is not an economically viable source of water on a large scale. Hence it is not solution to drought for agriculture.

kaep,

You are obviously vanna's conjoined twin - except you're the shouty half.

What a load of sexist bilge. This comfy unsustainable world has been driven my male innovation from the start of the Industrial Revolution.
Along the way it has acquiesced to the emancipation of women merely as an enhancement to profitable consumerism.

And I'm not "patently outraged" at the thought of the coming end to unsustainable living. Read my post history and you'll find that I advocate the opposite to consumerist ideology...Amicus and his ilk regularly accuse me of wanting to see us all living in caves.

Sheesh!.....

Australia's population would probably not be growing through natural fertility if the baby bribe scheme was abolished.