I have written previously (here and here) how the Australian Greens have shut down discussion and rational debate over population policy, in turn giving voice to divisive figures like Pauline Hanson. This comes despite population size having a direct impact on the Australian environment, which The Greens are supposed to care about.
Yesterday, NSW Greens MP, Jenny Leong, penned a rant in New Matilda linking Sustainable Australia’s sensible call to curb immigration with fascism [my emphasis]:
Throughout the election campaign, on any given day, there were literally hundreds of ‘satirical’ takes on Trump…
Whether it be cut together footage of Trump saying China on youtube, Tina Fey’s portrayal of Sarah Palin or, closer to home, mocking Pauline Hanson’s mis-statements or the Sustainable Population Party’s poster that blames traffic congestion on immigration, it’s time we considered the implications of this laughter…
If a revolution sounds like a whisper, perhaps the rise of fascism sounds like a joke. And as we probably would all agree, fascism is no laughing matter.
Trump’s victory as President – and Pauline Hanson’s recent electoral success in Australia – make it clear that we laugh at our own peril…
First, Sustainable Australia’s poster called for “better public transport and lower immigration”.
Second, does Ms Leong seriously believe that running a high population growth (immigration) policy does not impact traffic congestion? Can she do basic math?
The most recent ABS demographic statistics for the March quarter of 2016 revealed rampant population growth for both Victoria (read Melbourne) and New South Wales (read Sydney):
In the year to March 2016, Victoria’s population surged by a whopping 115,000, whereas New South Wales’ population grew by 103,000. By contrast, Queensland (62,000) and Western Australia (30,000) registered more moderate population growth that was well below their prior peaks.
Unsurprisingly, Infrastructure Partnerships Australia’s latest report found that road network “efficiency” has followed the level of population growth. Melbourne, the population growth leader, has suffered the greatest efficiency loss, followed by Sydney (see below graphic).
Sydney’s population is projected to grow by 87,000 people per annum over the 20 years to 2036 – a cumulative increase of 1.74 million people or 4.5 Canberra’s:
The situation facing Melbourne is even worse, with the city’s population projected to grow by 97,000 people per annum over the next 35 years – a cumulative increase of 3.4 million people or 2.5 Adelaide’s:
Accordingly, the Bureau of Infrastructure and Regional Economics forecasts soaring costs of congestion, particularly in Sydney and Melbourne, over the next 15 years:
Blind Freddy – but not The Greens it seems – can see the direct link between population growth, the environment, congestion, housing affordability and overall living standards.
Unfortunately, the The Greens have been so overrun by social justice warriors that it has become blinded to the plight of ordinary Australians, let alone the environment. And as long as Australians’ concerns are ignored, many will continue to defect to extremist elements like Pauline Hanson’s One Nation in protest.
Will the real Greens please stand up?
