Demand for workers will outstrip fear about resources

THE debate about Australia's population growth conventionally depicts overseas migration as leading to housing shortages, urban congestion and a range of other problems deriving from inadequate infrastructure. Of course, more people create more demand for housing and infrastructure and so in this simple sense the argument is correct. However, the argument about immigration is not simply about extra numbers of people. In a more complete consideration of its impact, immigration can be seen as part of the solution rather than part of the problem.