claybro wrote:
The question is, is economic development via constant increasing of the population sustainable? Probably not. It is masking some pretty big problems underlying in the Australian economy.
This question is not unique to Australia, but I suspect revising the monetary system and capitalism more broadly is perhaps beyond the scope of Weatherill's 30 year plan.
The example you raise is relevant and certainly not unique. So many people migrating to Australia are doing so because they have done well in their country of origin and are coming here for a better way of life - this is pretty much business as usual for Australia since WWII. Not only should we resist adopting a hostile attitude to a greater intake in South Australia, we should establish policy settings which makes it attractive for them to plant their family's flag in Adelaide rather than Sydney or Melbourne.
It's a story which fits neatly into the recent revisions to the 30 year plan, which focuses on high/medium density residential in inner suburbs; the benefits of population density without putting strain on public infrastructure, furthering urban sprawl or over inflating the value of existing housing stock.
rev wrote:
I don't understand why some of you are unable to comprehend the simple argument that governments should be trying to improve the economy, create new jobs, new industries/support existing industries to expand, first and foremost for PEOPLE ALREADY LIVING IN THIS COUNTRY!!
Although well-intentioned, this kind of economic nationalism ignores Australia's reliance on foreign capital, as evidenced by our current account deficits, which have now persisted for decades. We have always imported capital from around the world to build our economy and often that money has an individual attached to it. If you want existing citizens to improve their employment prospects, dissuading that economic activity is not the way to go about it.
There is a well established body of work which articulates the economic benefits of migration.
These comments dont even touch the sides of the benefits migration yields in an ageing economy.