At last a respected demographer is calling on Government to rethink the immigration policies and points to serious problems.

http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25081589-15306,00.html

In light of the econonomic situation and the lack of infastructure it is well past time we seriously cut back on immigration.

Sure some big busnesses will feel let down after paying substantial donations (bribes) to the two major political parties, but they cannot expect to get it all their own way, all of the time. They may have to compete with each other for a greater market share instead of relying on immigration for increasing sales.

Agreed Banjo. And if we stopped sending jobs offshore there may be more to spend within Australia that allow businesses to remain viable.

Uni of Canberra recently announced they are sacking 50 admin staff and outsourcing to India including enrolments, some finance and other clerical roles. It just gets worse and worse for business/employment not to mention problems with the tyranny of distance and security isses relating to confidentiality and identity theft.

By how much?. 10%....75%....100%?.

Around 150,000 immigrated to Australia in the last year. What about the people that will lose jobs as a result knocking immigration on the head?. How many jobs would THAT be?. It'll cost from the airlines all the way to the people that teach them English and everyone in between.

More jobs are being lost because of free trade than any cuts to immigration would induce.

Wayne Swan stated on Quanda (ABC) the other night that one in five Australian jobs were due to our export industry and protectionism would threaten these jobs. What he failed to add that many more jobs are being lost because of free trade. Importing goods that can be grown/manufactured here loses jobs in Australia.

Immigration is just one aspect in the way the economy is managed. If the financial crisis is going to mean higher unemployment bringing in more people is not going to help and will increase pressure on already strained social welfare services.

In a country which is already struggling to manage its water resources, and where cities are growing disproportionately to infrastructure to support it, arable land being handed over to developers, can we afford to increase our population any more.

Some experts argue that we have already gone over target for a sustainable population in Australia.

Cornelia Rau's detention was about Liberal Party incompetence. Compensation for wrongful detention was absolutely justified (notwithstanding the Liberal apologists who think mental illness is a crime that deserves punishment).

By contrast, the Francesco Madafferi case was pure Liberal Party corruption
http://www.theage.com.au/national/mafia-cashforvisa-scandal-20090222-8eoz.html

"In exchange for (alleged) criminal Frank Medaffery's (sic) release from Villawood detention centre and the granting of his application to stay in Australia, Liberal Party received donations from Medaffery's (sic) associates and business partners within the Italian community."

Apparently, the Liberal Party believes in the sanctity of human rights only when their Party coffers are augmented. Perhaps Banjo Col Rouge et al are touting for donations from Ms Rau for the $iberal Party?

Real jobs are only paid for by raw industraial and primary production to support secondary jobs. While we export coal, uranium, metals, wheat, sheep, and associated raw materials etc and not extend welfare and service employment beyond our overseas income we may survive.