Bigger or Better?

Lowe, Ian
Bigger or Better?

Bigger or Better?

Lowe, Ian

$34.95

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When Kevin Rudd responded to a government forecast that the Australian population could reach 36 million by 2050 by saying he believed in 'a big Australia', there was a strong public reaction. One insider said that 'the focus groups went ballistic'. Julia Gillard renamed the relevant minister's portfolio 'sustainable population', implicitly criticising pro-growth policies of previous governments. Tony Abbott vowed to 'stop the boats' if elected (thus limiting immigration), despite generally supporting a population growth agenda and clearly having no way of stopping the boats. The Murdoch press attacked both major parties, accusing them of pandering to base prejudice by discussing the social impacts of immigration or suggesting that population growth had negative environmental impacts. It urged politicians to champion what it claimed were the self-evident economic benefits of rapid population growth. The issue is clearly a political hot potato.

This book clarifies the subject, as the debate has been confused by serious misconceptions. It provides a historic account of Australia's population growth and an analysis of the data.
It looks at the components of the growth, such as birth rates and immigration, as well as the more recent trend of our ageing population. It also analyses the motives of different interested parties, both those who promote population growth and those who argue against it. Bigger or Better? makes the complex and controversial issues around population accessible to general readers and will contribute to public debate about this important topic.

Author:   Lowe, Ian
Publisher:   University of Queensland Press
ISBN:  

9780702239090


Pages:   288
Publication Date:   22 February 2012
Bind Format:   Paperback
Availability:  
This item is in stock and will be dispatched immediately.

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When Kevin Rudd responded to a government forecast that the Australian population could reach 36 million by 2050 by saying he believed in 'a big Australia', there was a strong public reaction. One insider said that 'the focus groups went ballistic'. Julia Gillard renamed the relevant minister's portfolio 'sustainable population', implicitly criticising pro-growth policies of previous governments. Tony Abbott vowed to 'stop the boats' if elected (thus limiting immigration), despite generally supporting a population growth agenda and clearly having no way of stopping the boats. The Murdoch press attacked both major parties, accusing them of pandering to base prejudice by discussing the social impacts of immigration or suggesting that population growth had negative environmental impacts. It urged politicians to champion what it claimed were the self-evident economic benefits of rapid population growth. The issue is clearly a political hot potato.

This book clarifies the subject, as the debate has been confused by serious misconceptions. It provides a historic account of Australia's population growth and an analysis of the data.
It looks at the components of the growth, such as birth rates and immigration, as well as the more recent trend of our ageing population. It also analyses the motives of different interested parties, both those who promote population growth and those who argue against it. Bigger or Better? makes the complex and controversial issues around population accessible to general readers and will contribute to public debate about this important topic.

Product Details
Author:   Lowe, Ian
Publisher:   University of Queensland Press
ISBN:  

9780702239090


Pages:   288
Publication Date:   22 February 2012
Bind Format:   Paperback
Availability:  
This item is in stock and will be dispatched immediately.
Reviews

Reviews

Recent Reviews

No review item found!