Yes ttbn I agree. Re your comment on infrastructure.
I think the immigration argument is tightly connected to energy.
There seems to be things going on that are not in the discussions at all.
Here are a couple of straws in the wind I read of yesterday.
It appears that in 2017 the amount of oil found was one fifth the amount consumed.
Indications this year is oil found will be one tenth that consumed.

http://tinyurl.com/y8rjs4cl

Do you think that might influence the oil company planning ?
Do you think that should influence our immigration numbers considering our 95% import ?

The second straw, the very big oil storage terminal in Sth Africa is empty.
The floating storage in oil tankers anchored up have also disappeared.

Not necessarily an immediate panic but should be a factor that needs examination.

Bazz,

Meanwhile, some of my fellow South Australians are protesting about plans to look for oil and gas in the vicinity of the Great Australian Bight. Would it be too cynical of me to be thinking that they are probably the same people who are in favour of mass immigration?

I don't watch Q&A, but the press reports that even China-admirer, Bob Carr opined on that awful program that immigration should be cut. 74% of Australians agree with that. Australian politicians are now doing what the European ones did: turning our home into home for the rest of the world, without any consultation with us.

Oil is essential for the production and transport of food. You cannot run heavy farm machinery and transport on electricity as the Greens imagine. You cannot feed a growing population without increasing farming and transport. What is happening Australia is food production is decreasing because it is too costly to produce for what Supermarkets are willing to pay. Australia was once designed for each family to have a 1/4 acre block so they could grow vegetables and have chooks to feed their family. Those dreams have gone by the wayside to the high rise apartments.

Banjo,
I agree with you, we cannot for several reasons bulild the
Very Fast Train. However what we can do is build the Fast Enough Train.
We have in NSW the fast enough train rolling stock, the XPTs known in
the UK as the 125s.
By straightening out the track. In the 19th century the earth moving
machinery was horses and scoops.
Then rebuilding the line to higher standards as per UK, no kinks in
the track, dead level alignment.
The smooth travel in the UK would be a revelation to Australian passengers.
This would take hours off the time to Melbourne.
It can all be done, would speed up freight as well.
Just a bit of common sense from politicians.

ttbn & Joesphus,
We are in agreement. I have introduced the liquid
fuels into the argument because they and electricity as energy sources
are fundamental to everything.

If it is all so obvious to us, why is it hidden from the politicians ?
The greens as sun worshipers, seem absolutely opposed to energy that
does not meet their approval.

Growth is not a fundamental necessity, but sustainability is, but
that is not the greenies aim, they want contraction.
We will have enough problems with sustainability without going
into contraction.
Yet they want more people to be brought in !
It then raises the question of their sanity !