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I agree that human sewerage should not be flushed into the ocean. In fact, I regard the building much of this country's sewerage sytem to have been a big mistake. In other countries the fertility of the soil has been maintained for thousands of years by recycling, back into the soil, all the nutrients taken out of it, including that contained in human waste. The fact that this has not been done has caused much of the fertility in our soil to have been lost in recent decades. As a consequence, the nutritional worth of even fresh vegetables is far less than what it used to be. Eventually our soils will lose their ability to grow anything if the broken chemical loop is not re-established.

You wrote: "The Qld govt is doing what it needs to for the population. ..."

The Queensland Government largely brought about the current problems because it encouraged population growth without regard for where the necessary natural resources would come from. This included a full page newspaper advertisement in the Courier Mail of 8 December 2005, which on the occasion of the anticipated birth of the 4,000,000th Queenslander the following day, urged other urged people to move to Queensland and for Queenslanders to welcome the new arrivals. It was personally signed by Queensland Premier Peter Beattie.

You wrote: "Govt could employ more people in the tax area, but this is does not add to economic growth. The comparison is a bit silly."

And why is it any less silly to suggest that the extra economic activity necessary to cope with greater population amounts to economic growth?

As result of water shortages, we are soon to pay a lot more for what used to be virtully free a generation ago. It's impossible, we are told to build the necessary roads without crippling the Brisbane City Council's finances. When the wretched North South Bypass Tunnel, alone costing $3billion, and associated projects are finally build, tens of thousands of Brisbanites are to be gouged with easily four tolls each day of the week

Forrest Gummpp, thanks for having pointed me to the article about Connor's dismissal at http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=5018 I have posted some comments there.

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Leigh,

Can you really believe that Howard and Downer did not know what was going on during the years that bribes were being paid to Hussein's regime? They received 31 (as I recall) warnings that something was wrong during that time. What else do you think could possibly have been done to have got them to act? If they weren't able to comprehend that many warnings, then how can you possibly consider them capable of running our country?

I believe that they did know what was going on, and right from the start, because I just can't believe that Downer and Howard are stupid enough not to have known.

It's not about airing my views on Iraq. If you state that you may be voting for John Howard, then I think it's reasonable to ask you to justify yourself.

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Regarding the alleged incompetence of the Whitlam government, this was largely an invention of a hostile newsmedia with vested interests in having it removed. Mistakes were made, but most of the economic problems were caused by the international economic crisis, itself, largely a consequence of the oil crisis.

In fact, Energy Minister Rex Connor wanted to make Australia energy independent. He tried to obtain a loan that would allow his Government on behalf of the people by back our oil and gas deposits. The fact that he resorted to unorthodox means was blown up by the newsmedia into the "Khemlani affair", but in all the hype and hysteria, the merits of Connor's underlying purpose were never discussed. Soon, with our own oil reserves likely to be exhausted in only 6 years time, we will pay the terrible cost for Connor not having realised his goal.

Another fact, not widely acknowledged is that the Whitlam Government reduced immigration as a response to the oil crisis as did European governments at the same time. Of course, as we know, policies of high immigration were resumed by the Fraser Government and all subsequent governments. You can read about in Chapter 7 of Sheila Newman's thesis, referred to above, at http://www.candobetter.org/sheila

I consider myself a 'socialist' although not one who supports open borders or who believes that the resources of our planet are infinite.

I think, for your own part, you should be prepared to reconsider whether our interests as a society are best served by giving unrestrained power to corporations and property speculators as this Government is bent on doing.

Dagget,It is a miracle! Conservation farming using no tillage, selective and cell grazing, and rapid adoption of irrigation technologies are changing the mistakes of the past. Landcare and private tree plantings are lowering water tables and reducing salinity. Shelter belts are reducing wind erosion whilst boosting productivity. Salt interception schemes reduce salt loads in the Murray.
Times change. Agriculture changes. Get out and have a look, preferably after we get some rain.
Your GH gas concerns seem to presuppose that our immigrants are GH gas neutral in their home countries.
World population increase is more attributable to agriculture and food availability. Fossil fuels did not provide widespread power(electricity) until the 1950's and I'm sure many populous areas still have none. Cars have only become widespread in China in the last twenty years yet they have a billion residents. Certainly industrialisation plays a big part. By not being subsistence farmers or hunter gathers, people have been able to specialise knowledge in medicine,health and hygiene. Builders create more comfortable and safe homes and hospitals and so on.
I agree that world over population is of great concern, and that current supplies of food and fibre have bred a complacency toward agriculture. Particularly as population is predicted to increase another 40% this century.
Brisbane no doubt has growing pains and I am surprised to hear that Mr Beattie recently was openly inviting more people to come

Leigh, whilst I can't speak for every town, those in northern and central NSW have ample supplies of clean potable water from bores. I believe farmers in the darling downs in QLD are suppling their bore water to some city populations like Toowoomba.
Western Australia has an enormous underground aquifer. Northern Australia has no lack of water, just lack of infrastructure.
No, Leigh, lack of water is not the issue but we are relying to heavily on it in the wrong places.

I can only assume from the views expressed here that many of you have been Australians since before time began. Otherwise you too would be immigrants wouldn't you? Why did your family come to a country that you see is clearly incapable of absorbing additional population?

At what time in history did the exact number of people that could be supported occur?

Clearly a lot of what has been written here is irrational to put it mildly. Reduce population Leigh? How? Extermination perhaps?

"Alleged incompetence" of the Whitlam government? Khemlani ring a bell Daggett? Or was he too alleged only?

It seems many have swallowed the media drive to convince all that water is disappearing. It's not. What has been missing is simple. Governments for over 3 decades have been relaxed and comfortable hoping infrastructure will cope with increased demand. It has, but has reached it's limits, and beyond. Plan ahead, spend tax dollars on the people's needs rather than political advantageous vote buying.

Neither major Party will do anything but fight fires as long term to them is a week.

I'm surprised none of you here has raised the New Year's crackers as a major threat to our climate yet.