| One of the biggest question with regards to Australian | | | | is not only about how many get in or are thrown out |
| immigration is whether or not Australia has been letting | | | | of Australia. In fact, they said that this one is actually |
| in too much people. Indeed, the country saw a large | | | | just a small piece of the whole puzzle. According to |
| wave of migration coming in from other places in | | | | them, the more important aspect is how to make the |
| recent years. Thus, the issue here is whether or not it | | | | Australian population be able to sustain itself while it |
| is time to cut down on immigrants coming into the | | | | steadily grows, which is something that can not be |
| country. | | | | realistically stopped. |
| And not surprisingly, this is one of the first issues that | | | | Here, experts emphasize that having a sustainable |
| have greeted new Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard | | | | population will not be achieved by cutting down on the |
| upon her ascension to the position last June. When | | | | numbers, but will instead be reached by a radical shift |
| questioned about the matter, Gillard said that she is not | | | | in the lifestyle of the population. As it turns out, statistics |
| keen on the idea of a "Big Australia" policy. However, | | | | show that, despite its small population of only around |
| she said that, while she is against large scale | | | | 22 million, Australia is actually consuming much of its |
| immigration, she isn't going down with migration per se, | | | | resources at a fast rate. |
| as she stressed out the importance of immigration to | | | | In order to be able to cut down on such a |
| the country. | | | | consumption, experts say, Australians need to change |
| What Gillard presented is the idea of having a so | | | | their lifestyles considerably. For instance, transportation |
| called sustainable population. She said that if this one is | | | | habits need to be changed in order to cut down on |
| met, Australia will be able to support its people while still | | | | fuel use. Some observers also said that in order to |
| maintaining their growth. However, while this one has | | | | make the most out of the country's limited resources, |
| become the mantra of the new government, not | | | | the people must learn to find more efficient means of |
| many people understand what a sustainable population | | | | living. |
| really means. And while a lot of people are arguing | | | | The truth of the matter is, such radical changes are |
| whether it should be this or that number, many experts | | | | unlikely to be achieved anytime soon. However, the |
| argue that they are actually missing the whole point of | | | | new Australian government is optimistic that with |
| the concept. | | | | determination, it will be able to take the first steps for |
| According to them, the idea of a sustainable population | | | | these changes. |