In response to “Shut the door on Kiwis to curb growth says MP”, Herald-Sun, 12/11:
Migration ruining land, wildlife
Thank you, Kelvin Thomson, for giving concerned political constituents a voice on the issue of overpopulation (“MP wants to slash Kiwi migrant influx”, November 12).
For years, this festering issue has been taboo on both sides of Parliament and rampant population growth has been regarded as a fait accompli.
But as we all know, this growth is the direct consequence of government policy, or lack of it.
At the moment, our population destiny is being driven by excessive immigration and ridiculous baby bonuses, the result of smart lobbying by the big end of town who will profit handsomely from this population bonanza.
Yet we are watching our environment being destroyed and our wildlife decimated as record levels of land-clearing and habitat loss occur, all in the pursuit of more humans.
– Tony Smith, Burwood
People explosion damages nation
Thank you, Kelvin Thomson, for speaking out on the problems caused by excessive population growth.
If this growth is not restricted, the quality of life Australians have taken for granted will continue to decline and the environment will be destroyed.
– Suzanne McHale
This isn’t just a New Zealand thing. We need to restrict immigration from everywhere. This obsession with population growth is killing our country.
– Ang
The Age, 13/11:
Growth unstoppable
An important element that appears missing from your welcome coverage of the projected population increase is the innate momentum of growth. If our population is to grow to 35 million by 2050, it will not stop there, but will continue for at least another 30 to 40 years.
This is well illustrated by Australian Bureau of Statistics figures on Australia’s present rate of growth. Even though the fertility rate is below replacement rate, our population would continue to grow until the mid-2030s even in the absence of net immigration.
– John Coulter, Scott Creek, SA
Silly boat people. If only they had said they want to do a course in English, not classes. Then they would be fast-tracked into the country for a lead role in the great immigration scam: the international student rort.
– Tricia McDonald, Malvern East
But there are also deniers: “Population fear is nonsense: Tanner”, 13/11. Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner believes the idea of Australia being overpopulated is nonsense, as other countries have far higher population densities. He does not take into account that much of the Australian continent is desert and its soil is old and infertile, thus it cannot support a high population. Even if it could, a high population density is not desirable as crowding people together is an unpleasant way to live.
