It is sad that a whole article can be written in this day and age with nary a word about water shortages and over-population. Why would OLO publish such an inadequate analysis ? Of course the article is all about the UK, but I gather they are facing severe water shortages even in that green and pleasant land. As for us in the driest continent, we should not contemplate the present rate of immigration if this drought looks like being a more permanent state of affairs. This article is simply not relevant to Australia.

In general terms, comments above have presented compelling arguments against immigration, but one was not addressed: the only way governments will bite the over-population bullet is when they no longer have the escape valve of emigration available.

read the banner Kang - this is as much as anything a journal of opinions - it is not an academic journal - And Anyway I think the water thingy is a bit of a Furphy!

We get heaps of rain we just let it run off to the sea - and those with acces to it waste it - we have had it too good for too long - we manage our resources with all the nouse of a drunken sailor - no eye for the future -

Eventually others will start eyeing off our wide brown land and want to inhabit parts of the country we are too dumb or scared to. Personally I welcome them and their wily ways.

It is a luxury to have only 21mill living on the edge of this block of land - we wont keep it to uorselves for that much longer

Those posters that say the basic problem is world over population are correct. Guy V says "We of the wealthy nations are well placed to change the social dynamic which preaches growth at all costs. Why are we still going down this road at the expense of all the other poor beings that inhabit the planet". He is spot on!

I recently read that somebody dies each 30 seconds from starvation related causes. Humans should be totally ashamed of this. We should take this matter on. Where is the UN? The only ones seemingly doing anything about the worlds population are the muslims in Africa and Middle East, but their methods are not acceptable to others.

Immigration is not the answer to this and the author seems to think it will cure all.

why do we have a high immigration policy in Australia? Because big business wants it and they pay for it by way of donations to the major political parties. Why , because it is a cheaper way of selling more consumer goods than competing with each other. Big business cares nought about our living standards or the cost and time it takes us to get to and from work or how long queses are.
Big business also imports skilled workers because it is cheaper than training our own.

Guy V you advocate a reduction in immigration by implementation of a one-in-one- out policy. Good idea by while ever the bloke paying the piper calls the tune, it will not happen. I recall Pauline advocating a zero nett policy and see what they did to her.

grn and B-D you both also have the right ideas on this.

Re Banjo:
“The only ones seemingly doing anything about the worlds population are the Muslims in Africa and Middle East, but their methods are not acceptable to others”

Banjo I must correct you there.
The policy you allude to does not result in a net reduction in population -and never ever had that intention.

Rather it goes like this:We kill or expel one of yours and replace them with six of ours.

And hey! don’t knock it, it’s been perfected after centuries of practice.Just ask the (now) minority ( previously majority ) Copts, Armenians, Kurds, West Irianese etc etc…

To say we are helping the third world by letting in people from there is completely false. Please see video below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7WJeqxuOfQ

reckless immigration is a disaster for the host country. Ask the Romans if you dont belive me!

To say that water isn't an issue when contemplating immigration is denying the obvious. Those people on level 4 or 5 water restrictions would be shaking their head.
Alan Kohler presented a graph on the news showing a gap of 100,000 homes when comparing population growth and building construction. This gap is increasing. Sure we can have more people, we can pack them in like sardines in our cities like they do in Europe and Asia, but are Australian's willing to give up the 1/4 acre block, backyard and vegie garden for that lifestyle. And creating that environment would achieve what? The insatiable demands from 9 billion other people will never be sated, I don't see why we, a nation that kept it's reproductive rate under control, have to give up a high standard of living for other more irresponsible nations.
And don't get me started on peak oil and the changes that will occur to our cities and economies after the age of carbon.