Australian Associated Press

Greens want immigration cut
By Cathy Alexander,
AAP February 1, 2010, 4:29 pm

Immigration should be cut to keep Australia’s population sustainable, the Australian Greens say.

Greens leader Bob Brown said most people did not support the federal government’s plan to boost population from 22 to 36 million by 2050.

“Most people think our lifestyle is good, but some of the bigger cities are bursting at the seams,” Senator Brown told reporters in Canberra on Monday.

“We’re at record high immigration and it’s got to be reviewed.

“I think immigration levels should settle down much lower than they are at the moment, without cutting humanitarian immigration.”

Last financial year, 184,000 migrants were granted entry to Australia.

Most gained a visa due to their work skills, while almost a third came on a family visa.

About seven per cent were humanitarian entrants, including refugees.

Senator Brown criticised the amount of skilled migrants.

“You can buy your way into this country if you’re rich or you’re highly skilled.”

He said Australians should live sustainably but a big population increase would threaten the nation’s ability to do that.

The government on Monday released its third intergenerational report, which includes the 36 million population forecast.

Senator Brown was concerned that inadequate efforts were being made to tackle climate change when it came to planning for the future.

A failure to address climate change would sock the economy, he said.

“If we don’t tackle climate change, we not only lose quality of life … but we lose eight per cent of the gross national product,” Senator Brown said.

HERE