“He added that the Census data told a story of “immigration begetting immigration”, with an increasing population creating skills shortages in some areas that then creates an argument for further immigration.”

This is what is commonly called "ponzi demography", and every country that has based its economy around ponzi demography has eventually crashed.

Australians are too dumb to learn.

While I think some of the analysis in the article is superficial, the comments are lacking seriously in understanding the policy shifts in migration before and during John Howard. There were a series of government reports commissioned by Labor, from Bob Hawke in 1987, most notably the Fiztgerald Report, to the 1994 Karpin Report on skills and diversity in the population, to a wholesale shift in the migration points system and intake that saw skilled migration overtake family migraiotn well before Howard got into office. A recession in 1991-92 saw migration drop particularly in skilled and business areas, but it oustripped family reunion ever since.

Signifcant changes were under then Immigration Minister Chris Hurford as early as 1986 who declared that the Concessional category - extended family, among others - were to pass the points test on "employability, education and skills characteristics (quote from Hansard, 10th April, 1986). The fact is, and you can go double check the Census, migration from the Asian region had trupmed all other areas even before Paul Keating took over from Hawke. John Howard had nothing to do with orienting migration intake to Asia, although one should remember his famour 1988 remarks saying that there was too much Asian immigration for Australia to accept socially.

I could go on - say to include the numerous reports in the mid 1980s on increasing skilled migraiton by the Committee for the Economic Development of Australia (CEDA), or the 1989 National Agenda for a Multicultural Australia which basically introduced the idea of Productive Diversity into the migration debate, years before the Howard regime.

But really, my point is that it the self indulgent retorts by those commenting above, comments like "ponzi demography" (never heard of it, actually), and "after 14 years of labour corrupting our immigration system", and the hate speech which suggest people from parts of the Middle East are "uneducated peasants", etc. - it is comments such as these which show little understanding of the long history of policy advisors and federal bureaucracy influencing or guiding immigration policy no matter who was in power.

CONVERSATION - please monitor your comments. There are comments above mine that will cause offence.

Not surprised that several cliches have been mentioned e.g. "ponzi demography" while ignoring fact that yes the world's population is increasing now, but growth will only be occurring in sub Saharan Africa by 2050.

Population growth is not just an Australian quantitative issue, but qualitative and is a boon for diversity (including genetic), creativity, renewal and the skills that immigrants bring e.g. as we have already, languages for the "Asian Century". However, Australia seems to do everything to stop skilled immigrants whether independent or via Australian education & training pathways....

However, many including the CPUR and cohorts have helped create alarm about "runaway population growth" which was also used in the USA to co opt the environmental movement, i.e. the strategy of "green washing" (in addition to "carrying capacity" etc. etc.). This is true of the US Federation for Immigration Reform which if you don't know is an anti immigration lobby group with some dubious connections.....

In Australia's case our net overseas migration, immigration and population measures can be very confusing as it includes temporary residents in country for 12/16 months e.g. international students, temporary workers, dependents etc. (since 2006?) The wording and definitions lead many including the media to conflate temporary residents with immigrants when they are only temporary, but curiously this does not bother spruikers in the real estate industry :)

Further, looking forward 5, 10 etc. years, how will be skill shortages impacting particular occupations and Australia as a whole e.g. ageing population including massive baby boomer bubble starting to retire now? The western world as we know it (and developing too) will be dealing in future with skill shortages of 200 million due to ageing populations and lower birth rates, but for now governments are following perceived negative issues vs leading our great multicultural society into the world.

Australia like elsewhere will be competing to attract skilled immigrants, not trying to discourage them. Meanwhile, our political culture precludes thinking beyond the next opinion poll but it would do all present and prospective Australians a disservice to inform immigration policy by "research" from culturally specific nativist groups, here and elsewhere....

What is needed now (with or without immigration) are solutions to issues of ageing population, infrastructure, energy, resources, transport, urban/residential design and adapt for the future, which we can surely do but we are constantly told that we cannot cope?

NB Usual suspects, you can now try on your predictable behaviour or reaction namely claiming ad hominen, via personal attacks on those who disagree, claiming inverse racism, religious type belief in your views etc., but we know what you are really about.