By every measure, except GDP as distinct from GDP per capita,population growth in Arid Australia is a tragedy for the country and the generations to come.

Funny how we don't seem to get hordes of boat arrivals from Switzerland. For GDP per capita to merely stay constant with say 2% population growth we must have 2% economic growth. From the outside that might not seem too bad recently with the Covid rebound, plenty of rain plus exports of coal which some say is bad (I agree) and gas which we'll need for ourselves. I think before 2030 it will go pear shaped with the combination of El Nino, local coal closures and high population growth.

I recall an ABC item on Pacific island aged care workers saying their plan was to bring out family. That's an inbuilt multiplier. Can they afford to buy a house? When the baby boomers die out say by 2040 or fruit picking is mechanised we may not need so many of that kind of worker. Too late we'll have heading on for 35m or whatever people with dried up rivers and dried up jobs.

"Population growth strongly influences wellbeing across other domains. Particularly in Australia, it should be its own domain".

Yes: to the detriment of well-being. More people, but no more resources-health, infrastructure, housing, electricity, water, transport etc. But more multiculturalism and divisions.

Given that we have outsourced most manufacturing to China, we should need fewer people.

Wealth? Most of the extra that comes in goes to a few bigshots; per capita wealth decreases. Kindergarten stuff.

People on the dole just about match the jobs we are told need filling.

The very LAST thing we need is more people. Time to get bludging Australians and freeloading immigrants off their backsides.

The really bad and stupid people have been in charge for to long, no matter how different from each other they claim to be.

Endless Growth is an oxymoron along with Sustainable Growth.

"The very LAST thing we need is more people"
I don`t often agree with you ttbn but there is certainly No argument here.

The inmates have escaped and are now running the asylum.

Economic growth predicated on population growth is insanity writ large. We cannot house those here now! Skills shortages can be addressed by temporary guest labour. Where their skill sets can be transferred to Australians.

All the indicators for growth are worthless if energy prices stymie them stillborn, the realistic outcome of a political obtuse asinine mindset that's welded to coal as the source of power provision in this country.

We need healthy metal smelting industries able to compete with the world. And that cannot rely on battery or pumped hydro backed renewables.

We're to build and service nuclear subs here. with a locked and bolted energy supply paradigm that'll force the price/build cost up by triple at the very least!

Wages are also sure to spiral out of control as workers chase their tails trying to catch energy created inflation. Treasury tacks should read, treasury lacks!

Make no mistake, until we get nuclear power that's now markedly cheaper than coal, this Mad hatter policy paradigm will continue or worsen, as the government throws taxpayer money subsidies (billions) at a problem they refuse to address with sane economic policies and a coherent energy policy fit for purpose, i.e., MSR thorium/nuclear waste burners. And consequent energy prices as low as 1-3 cents PKWH.

There is something very wrong in this country, when the incredibly narrow interests of around 12,000 coal miners take precedence over 23 million Australians. As others have pointed out, we do not have the water resources to house more. Besides the pandemic and closed border outcomes, demonstrably show more permanent residents are not needed to stimulate bona fide economic growth/wellbeing!
Alan B.

What ttbn and ateday say. Flag it and take to an election!

Democracy used to mean by the people for the people, of the people. What we seem to have now is an elected Autocracy put there via a highly manipulated preferential voting system that clearly phucks the expressed will of the people.
Alan B.

To reassure, ttbn, having population as a "domain" just means that you measure it and scrutinise it, not necessarily that you want more of it.

The Treasury drift is NOT to measure it in any framework. Because the Treasury and "stakeholders" believe mass migration and endless population growth should be a given. Electors and environment be damned.

Electors and environment be damned.…

Amuses me, those most vocal in complaint, are exactly the same complainers that roll up diligently to vote them in.
While ever that situation continues, nothing will change in the arrogance of a system that continually disregards the majority thought. That is not Democracy , more like a Ponzi scheme to scams voters out of their Democratic rights to a meaningful say in Governance.

Australia Day! Who’s Australia is it actually, when a vote is the value of “Nix”?

"The very LAST thing we need is more people"

ateday,
No & yes. Australians are realising that they can't chance the future of this Nation by willy nilly immigration however, it would not be wrong to freshen the gene pool ! The decline in mentality towards responsibility among the raised here is the greatest threat to this Nation.
Conscientious migrants with the mentality of starting a new life is vital. What is not recommended is to provide for people who bring their baggage with them with not intention of assimilating !
To live here for the rest of your life means co-operating for the common good & not exploiting the good will extended to them !
Growth is a silly notion for those stupid enough to be greedy !

Great comments, but Diver Dan has it right. Until the major parties face some real punishment at the ballot box, they will continue to do what is good for themselves (seeing that most of them have property portfolios) and for their donors at the expense of the environment and everyone else. Number every box and put the major parties last, with the sitting member last of all and the party in government last of all for the Senate. Put any other Big Australia parties or candidates right above them. Labor was elected with 32.6% of the primary vote. Just a little push and we can force minority government on the major party sell-outs.

More conservative fossil fueled Malthusian clap trap or pseudo science narratives masquerading as environmental, centrist and science based via ZPG inc. John 'passive eugenics' Tanton who admired the white Australia policy & liaised with SPA.

Also supported by oligarchs, inc. Ford and the Rockefeller (Exxon/Chevron) Foundation that supported the Kaiser Wilhelm Institutes in pre WWII Germany doing eugenics research; later it's the Club of Rome greenwashing fossil fuels via 'limits to growth' demanding 'degrowth' for everyone else....

What's your 'solution' to population growth, the one that hath no name? Or are you afraid to voice it publicly, unlike some of your counterparts in the UK Migration Watch, Pop Matters, Nigel Farage et al. & especially US e.g. FoxNews, Bannon, Trump et al.?

Only permanent population growth in Oz is increasing numbers of oldies (with beloew replacement fertility), while younger temporary immigrants or 'churn over' are net financial budget contributors making up for fewer taxpayers; replicated across the developed and now developing world.

The anti-humanity or population obsessions are because of libertarian anti tax ideology &/or nativism, infused with eugenics, that blames immigrants (inc. us?) and population growth for our abuse of the environment & resistance to transition away from fossil fuels.

If you cannot offer your 'solution' then why keep banging on about nothing?

Here's a question for others, if you stop all or severely crimp immigration, i.e. including NOM or churn over especially and modest permanent migration under the cap, who is going to take & make up the slack in (reduced) federal budget revenues?

Budgets are under more pressure to support more pensions, health and related for we retirees, but solution? Property taxes, inheritance taxes, taxes on high retirement super income, increase GST etc.? Good luck with that...

It's not about a direct linkage between population and economic growth, while suggesting the same is responsible for carbon emissions; the latter emissions have been falling in nations with increasing economic growth?

Basic maths with below replacement and now stagnating fertility everywhere, what's so difficult about that? That's right, we are in Australia endeavouring to outdo the US in stupidity.... demanding a return of the white Australia policy?

Or worse, those RW libertarian influencers against Covid science, restrictions etc. often voiced their 'solution' indirectly e.g. Bolt claiming on behalf of oldies they have had a good life and do not need to live so long; sheesh!