With contradictory policies from our government, we will never be able to address climate change. Kevin Rudd prefers the short-term benefits of population growth, driven by immigration, rather than compromise the guaranteed support from business lobbies and land developers. Why should the public make sacrifices to their livestyles and pay ETS taxes for a small reduction in ghg while the population is being "projected" at such as high rate? If we halted our massive skilled immigration program we may be able to see some reduction in air pollution and environmental devestation. We do have a strong tradition of multiculturalism and immigration, but we do not live in the 1950s now! A global population blow-out is the cause of climate change, but still we hear little intelligent debate on limiting human numbers.

All of our politicians have a stupid attitude to population. They listen to the building industry and other industries needing population growth to continue selling unnecessary luxury and throw away goods. These industries are prepared to lie and bribe (political ‘donations’) to get what they want.

One of our greatest global warming alarmists, Tim Flannery, warned some years ago that Australia’s sustainable population was about 13 million; but someone seems to have gagged him.

The Greens now never mention their erstwhile anti- population growth policy which was one of the things which attract voters in the first place.

The recent report (The Australian Jan.29) that foreign students are starting to back off education in Australia will probably cause panic among the high immigrationists as this scheme has always been used as a backdoor immigration lurk – ‘visas for degrees’ – to increase population and avoid the necessity of training Australians by the previous and current governments.

Of course, let’s not worry that most of these foreign students don’t have the standard of English to work in the area they are supposedly trained for, and we a left with incompetent taxi drivers.

The housing industry admits that immigration plays a major role in their industry, and it is quite clear that there is no benefit to Australia in population growth except for a few rich people who want to get even richer.

Unless Australia ceases all immigration and tries to reduce the population to a sustainable number, the future is going to be very grim.

Australians should be banging on the gates of Canberra trying to get the message through to our thick-headed, obstinate and treacherous politicians.

Population pressures and green energy are separate issues. I say this because the sustainable clean energy machine is already rolling and nothing is going to stop it now. If the developments in policy and the switch of venture capital in America towards renewable energy is looked at it seems unlikely that the targets set for limited emissions mean nothing. Green energy will have overtaken them long before they are due to be implimented. Fossil fuel proponants are yesterdays people. For Australia the decision is to get on board or get left behind.
There are many issues surrounding population growth that need to be addressed but the reliance on yesterdays technology is not one of them.

I would like to see Australia have a population of 13,000,000. I would like to see a reduction in population all over the world. How do I persuade my many descendants not to do what comes naturally? As an emigrant to Australia how can I say in fairness that I can come here, but you can't?

Barry
Good article very thought provoking.
I take back what I’ve said about economists. At least as far as you anyway.

Daviy.
I think you should look at this link as it shows the CO2 output of producing the food at current levels it out weights the rest. If we are to feed the population we have the CO2 output would increase significantly further. This means more people = more CO2.
Ergo the two are so linked as to be one and the same. Green fuel may mean more time but the end result is still the same.
http://www.newscientist.com/data/images/archive/2673/26731701.jpg

Leigh,
I think you missed the point. The life boat mentality of stopping Immigration wouldn’t solve anything.
Pollution, CO2 knows no national boundaries the people still exist they still pollute still create excess CO2 so unless you are advocating annihilating all 3rd world population and developing people like China, India etc.
The author hinted at a possible solution… education etc.
BTW there are no uber conspiracy as such just special interests doing what Capitalism as we practice it allows.

VivKay
Business as usual in Lifeboat Australia is myopic and ultimately pointless if only though sheer weight of numbers. If they get desparate enough. Consider China/India's military strength then ours. The US will only become involved in a full scale shooting war if it threatens them. We are part of the world we need to act as part of it.
You're right though we're not in the 1950's a pox on Howard's politics that set us back 10 years.

I've got to agree with the article and all comments so far.
Politicians get labeled "racist", "alarmist" or worse at the mere suggestion of slowing down immigration. They also are so driven by yesterdays business interests that the nations interests and future wealth don't get a look in.
We have the engineers and workforce to lead the world in modern energy systems, yet are being lead by 19th century managers and "leaders" who will simply follow the lead of the US and England.
Some of the religious nutters believe that God will sort it all out when the Rapture comes: Breed like God intended!
I am reminded of the following geeky cautionary tale:
"A colony of bacteria is growing in a petri dish. The colony doubles every 2 minutes. After 1/4 of the dish was full, some began to worry that they only had 4 minutes left until the dish is 100% full, after which they would all die. A brave soul decided to go exploring and climbed the edge of the dish to have a look around. To its delight there were 15 more dishes nearby! It had taken their entire history (hours) to fill a mere 1/4 dish, and now here was vastly more resources than they could imagine. The bacteria returned, there was much rejoicing and the pessimists were quickly killed for worrying the rest needlessly.
After 12 minutes the colony was dead."
Humans are breeding exponentially too. Humans kill each other before they starve, so 100% utilisation will never be reached, yet this is what economists are aiming for. Although heavy going, Jarrod Diamond's "Collapse" is worth reading. "Guns, Germs and Steel" is also a good read to understand the rise of modern civilisation and its vulnerabilities.