MB has noted a number times the strange transformation of leading immigration spruiker, Professor Peter McDonald, from population hawk to dove. McDonald co-authored a 1999 federal parliamentary research paper, entitled “Population Futures for Australia: the Policy Alternatives”, in which he explicitly noted that it is “demographic nonsense to believe that immigration can help to keep our population young”, while also recommending “a population of 24-25 million within 50 years” as well as “annual net migration… in the order of 80 000“. Yet today is quoted everywhere as the leading authority and proponent for much higher rates.
Dick Smith has the answer!
