Nice article by Jo Coghlan. But should "million" be "billion" in this second sentence?:

In terms of labour migration, the Gillard government has focused on 'Big Australia': a version of populate or perish that accepts Australian's aren't having enough children so we should increase our population with migrant labour. The 2011 federal budget costed administration, infrastructure and sustainability for this measure alone at over $1.17 million

Livio

Jo
I enjoyed a previous article of yours but this one less so because it implies that only those wanting a free flow of migrants into a country are on the side of the angels. Consider the fact that the African-American population in the US has been disadvantaged by the arrival of so many Latino immigrants (both legal and illegal) who have pushed them out of jobs and pushed down wages.
You also ignore the impact on population growth that large scale immigration brings, particularly in the US where Latino immigrants continue to have large families into the second and third generations (unlike migrants to Australia who settle to the Australian norm in terms of family size by the second generation). Bigger populations are causing congestion, pollution and loss of biodiversity through reduction of habitat in both the US and Australia. Both countries can be deemed to be overpopulated from a natural resources/biodiversity point of view.
Much as I love President Obama, I think he's got it wrong on immigration. I once loved Julia Gillard for her comments on Australia "not hurtling towards a big Australia" but that's exactly what is happening because the so-called Minister for Sustainable Population either hasn't got enough clout to push for genuine sustainability or doesn't appreciate what it's all about. You can't have sustainability with an ever-growing population, especially as we try and curb our greenhouse gas emissions and meet international targets.

Yes Jo should have said billions.
She should now be sacked from her job as that is the standard that was
set for Barnaby Joyce for making that mistake.

Don't worry popnperish, as growth stops and turns into contraction
immigration will come to a grinding halt.
The only likelihood that there will be an increase will be if famine
sets in in a big way and fleets of boats and ships come our way.

Next Sunday's Landline will have an item about the food supply decline.

BTW, the Bunderwach (German Army) has completed its study of peak oil
and has been published in German. An English version will be out
soon. Extracts are on the Energy Bulletin at present.
They are not optimistic at all about the effect on the economy.

Any farmer will tell you good fences make for good neighbours.

Control who is using the pastures and you will retain the pastures. Drop the fence and all the fences fall in succession.

Hardin's essay is a reasonable example
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragedy_of_the_commons