Latest Australian Population growth rate figures ‘Alarming’
The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports the highest population growth rate since 2009. An 18 per cent increase in annual net overseas migration to 197,200 is responsible for the rise. Australia is entering a period of uncertainty for which we will be better prepared if we do not have to support ever more people - native born or immigrants. -- Sustainable Population Australia (SPA)
Australia's population growth getting out of control
The latest figures that show Australia’s growth rate has risen to 1.5 per cent are alarming, according to Sustainable Population Australia (SPA).
The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports this is the highest growth rate since 2009. An 18 per cent increase in annual net overseas migration to 197,200 is responsible for the rise.
SPA National Vice-President, Dr John Coulter, says, irrespective of what Prime Minister Gillard once said, we are indeed hurtling down the track towards a big population.
Socially, environmentally and economically beyond the pale
“If we continue with a 1.5 per cent national growth rate, Australia will have doubled its population to 45 million by 2060,” says Dr Coulter. “This is totally untenable in environmental, social and economic terms.
“We are facing the twin challenges of climate change and peak conventional oil,” he says. “The latter will mean a possible doubling in oil prices by the end of the decade which will have grave implications for the economy.”
Dr Coulter says the current resources boom will not last and Australia will not be able to support even the present population, never mind a larger one.
Petroleum depletion, massive economic debt and climate change make three scary horsemen
“The US author Richard Heinberg is currently touring Australia. He warns that the end of economic growth is imminent because of the energy crisis, the debt bubble and climate change. If there is no economic growth, we certainly cannot support a growing population.
“Climate change is particularly worrying because we appear to be heading for a rise in temperature of at least 3.5o C which will wipe out much of Australian agriculture.
Dr Coulter said that Australia is entering a period of uncertainty for which we will be better prepared if we do not have to support ever more people, be they migrants or native-born.
Further information: John Coulter 08 8388 2153
Source: Press Release from SPA, www.population.org.au, 28 September 2012
NEW POPULATION BOOK: Sheila Newman has just published new theory in a new book, Demography, Territory & Law: The Rules of Animal and Human Populations (see link). Two chapters are on multi-species demography, the rest apply the theory to non-industrial societies and the author comes up with a completely new test for the collapse model of Easter Island, which will stun those who thought they knew all about it. Forensic biologist, Hans Brunner writes of it: "This book takes us to a completely new paradigm in multiple species population science. It shows how little we understand, and how much we need to know, of the sexual reactions when closed colonies with an orderly reproduction system are destroyed, be it people or animals."
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Comments
"Sustainable" growth a mockery!
Victoria's $24 billion extravagant desalination plant must be paid by the people of Victoria, despite our dams being 80% full. The plan for this expensive desal plant is due to a kneejerk reaction to Labor government's high population growth at a time of a severe, 13 year drought. It has a lifetime of 100 years, and must be paid for by water-users.
However, Victoria's population growth is set to double in under 50 years. With population growth outpacing any addressing of our water supplies, just how many desal plant must the people pay for for a reliable water supply?
The power of developers and the banks means that any strategic planning, or any form of real "planning", is being thrown out the window for the immediate cash-flows from population growth.
Ecological overshoot is costly - environmentally, socially and economically. It makes mockery of any "sustainable" developments, "sustainable" growth, or any investment in a long-term, meaningful future.
High probability of even "bigger" Australia than thought!
Queensland Centre for Population Research (QCPR) demographers have done some probability modelling for Australia.
“Our modelling indicates there is a 95% chance that by mid-century Australia’s population will be between 29 and 43 million,” QCPR spokesperson, Dr Tom Wilson said.
“Our model tells us there is a 50% chance that the nation’s population will be greater than 36 million by 2051, so we could have an ‘even bigger’ Australia” he said.
Julia Gillard's rejection of "big Australia" was a lie, a farce, and cruel political spin.
The projections by QCPR are based on statistical models which include the variability of past demographic change and expert opinion on the future range of overseas migration.
Read more: http://www.gpem.uq.edu.au/population
If continued, our immigration policy of increasing numbers of immigrants will irreversibly alter the natural and urban environments, economic viability as well. It will undermine Australia as a nation with a unique and valuable identity and culture. The only policy is to get bigger!
We don't have to shut down our immigration, or shut our borders, but re-define it, and allow immigration to outpace immigration by only enough people to stabilize our numbers. Trying to add young migrants to dilute our "ageing population" is similar to being conned into buying snake-oil elixirs to maintain eternal youthful looks! Personal ageing can't be avoided, and neither can ageing populations. We must celebrate our ageing population as a symbol of success and maturity.
The obsession with "bigness", and "big is better" is a childish fixation, and focuses on dimensions rather than ideals, costs, long term value, heritage, dimensions of quality, and even our survival. Allowing immature and megalomaniac, easily manipulated adults to be in charge of policies such as our population size is like allowing children to play with matches!