In a recent article in The Australian newspaper, Australian government advisors expressed their opinions on the ongoing Big Australia debate. The article, entitled ‘Reject Little Australia: PM Advisors’ which was published on the 22^nd July, announces the views of three key government advisors. Many people considering moving to Australia may be interested in this debate and the subsequent consequences which a possible population cap would have on immigration levels.

The debate currently centres on conflicting views of the general, mainly city dwelling public who are concerned about about urban congestion and business leaders and economists who believe that robust immigration is needed for economic growth. City inhabitants are also concerned about rising house prices, pressure on resources such as electricity and water and increasingly lengthy commutes to work which many people claim is due to unsustainable population increase. The current population growth rate in Australia stands at 2%.

There is a consensus of opinion between the government advisors quoted in The Australian newspaper. All three interviewed agree that population growth should be encouraged or else face potential ‘dangerous’ consequences for the country. Glen Withers, a Population Economist and Rod Eddington from Infrastructure Australia both commented on the need for healthy immigration numbers. Rod Eddington pointed out that migration is one of the reasons that Australia has grown to be a successful nation. He also pointed out that immigration is needed in order to bring skilled workers into the country and that ‘the hunt for talent is a global hunt’.

Peter McDonald from the Australian Demographic and Social Research Institute has stated that he feels migrants are being used as a ‘scapegoat’ for government failures and favours a high immigration level also.

The debate is one of the principal issues in Australian politics at the moment and is a divisive issue among voters in the next federal election due to take place in August of this year. The challenge for the next Australian government will be to balance the need for immigration with the resulting pressures on infrastructure and resources in certain highly populated ideas. This may result in a serious examination and reform of urban planning in Australia.

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