1. ludwig: higher populations have benefits for politicians. that's why democracy is necessary.

2. steel: the main problem is you think you have democracy.

a nation without citizen initiative referendum is not a democracy, it is at best, a 'democracy': a polity whose masters have found it cheaper to control the cattle with newspeak rather than machineguns.

the difference between australia and democracy is clear. the only stupidity in australian politics is in the people, who watch their nation being driven into penury by a few hundred tricksters in big suits while complaining that someone (else) ought to do something. one characteristic of 'democracy' is the psychological neutering of the public.

Poor runner, he along with all those racially base Xenophiles are between a rock and reality.
In their view Australia needs more people to service the never ending Capitalist machine so they can maintain their views (xenophobic elitist) of their culture.
The points they ignore or are beyond them are:
1. We are over populated for our capabilities now. Consequently we are more and more dependant on the world community Asia in particular,
2. The other countries North of us are likewise afflicted if not more so.
3. Sooner or later their “ownership” of our resources and their needs will reach crisis point whereby we become the new Palestine victims of someone else's ideology.
4. The USA will be too involved in its own problems to bother with us.
5. Logic and history tells us we can’t remain an island of ‘white supremacy’ in Asia forever. With Umpteen Billions of then we’d better get to like (accept) them and hope they’re more tolerant than us.

I would ask those “consequence challenged denialists” to explain how they intend to address the above issues particularly 1 but experience tells me their only answer is denial or abuse.(fear and ignorance?)

All the examples given have occurred because the people involved are simply afraid that their less than perfect “cultures” may no longer dominate. In short it’s all about perceived power. To do what? To practise their culture/religion?

The fear of other cultures/religion is based ignorance and/or pretensions of superiority to the point whereby they must be imposed on others.

History shows cultural/religion intolerance occurs primarily only when they are seen as a threat.
History shows us that aggression/violence is the cause of all violence. Christians have a reputation for more cultural genocide than any other religion…it’s been at it longer. The Jewish problem arose and continues because of their elitist views (they are the chosen people).

The obscenity that is the Middle East problem is simple a manifestation of the above inanity and reactionary behaviour by both sides

Odd. Every poster has expressed reservations about population growth through immigration. Even runner. Yet I was listening Chris Evans, the federal minister on immigration, on the radio the other day. I was startled to here him say he thought our population should be around 50 million. At the time I thought "my god, is that what we are up against?".

Actually, now that I have thought about it, I must find out what my local representatives think about population growth. Its one of the few (only?) single issues that would change my vote.

Its hard to know for sure, but I'd be amazed if the pollies aren't way out of step with the electorate on this issue. Even further out of step than the euthanasia thing, if that's possible.

I've got an idea. Graham Y! Are you listening. We need a poll....

According to the World Bank [cited Kolter et al., The Marketing of Nations], the two wealthiest countries in the World are Australia and Canada, respectively. Huge assets, small population.

That said, a larger population would help break-up the Banking and Retail oligopolies, that fleece us on a daily basis.

Agree with Philo water [and infrastructure generally] are very important. In in th US, the roads built in 1950s (?) are starting break-up. Aussie politicians will not plan for the future, against pressure to but votes now. John Howard gave a few hundred here and thousand there; it should have been billions for water, new airports and Highway 1. We want build now and save for maintainance, as required of a big population.

I can't see why we can't benchmark against Canada, especially with Asian immigrants.

The Federal and State governments are knowingly and deliberately damaging the lives and lifestyles of every resident of Australia by encouraging further population growth. They are obviously being strongly influenced by the New World Order loonies who want no borders between countries, a single race of people worldwide with each person having the right to live and work in any country of their choice. (see Barack Obama –“Tear down the Walls between countries” - 24/7/08).

The first step will be to make a Free Trade area between countries of the Pacific Rim – per se’ a fairly innocuous and innocent looking move. Then will come a political alliance as happende in Europe, then the election of a Pacific Rim Parliament (with no powers at this stage), then assimilation of the laws of the Member States, then removal of State Borders with everyone moving to any other country of their choice. Obama obviously shares the Common Purpose of the NWO.

This is the Grand Plan of the NWO loonies and the current incitement and encouragement of population growth in Australia is but a small first step.

But even this first small step is having dramatic effects on the quality of life of us all. A shortage of affordable housing (too many people chasing too few houses), people having to utilise every opportunity to obtain financial credit to buy houses, massive tracts of land being consumed by housing, shopping malls, roads, schools, desalination plants etc etc. Over-crowded roads and public transport because people have to live near cities and towns for their work and the social amenities. Hospitals and health services at breaking point (and will continue so despite the token injection of some cash by the Federal Government). Schools rapidly becoming overcrowded. Social amenities such as beaches, cinemas, theatres etc becoming increasingly difficult to access and more costly due to extra demand.

Even worse shortages of water.

These are but a few of the effects on our daily lives from increasing population.