Politics

How many is too many? Why Dick Smith wants a ‘population policy’

Nov 06, 2017

Dick Smith speaks out about Australia's growing population. Source: Getty

Entrepreneur Dick Smith has never been shy when it comes to sharing his opinions on immigration and what he believes is right for the future of Australia.

In fact, the 73-year-old recently spent an incredible $1million on a campaign designed to reduce immigration and increase taxes for the wealthiest people in our country.

Now the millionaire has written an opinion piece in The Australian questioning why we don’t yet have a policy specifically addressing the issue of population size.

“I believe we are on our way to destroying Australia as we know it today,” he wrote.

“Renowned building developer Harry Triguboff wants an Australia of 150 million people. My friend the billionaire retailer Gerry Harvey says Australia’s population is more likely to grow to 100 million by the end of the century and we have no control over it.”

The implication being that of course the super-healthy are happy to have a bigger population – the top 1 per cent of the country’s wealthiest people own more than the bottom 70 per cent (or 17 million people) – because they will continue to get rich, while the number of poorer people will just continue to grow if the population increases.

Smith believes that a population policy is the only way we are going to fix the nation’s population issue.

As it currently stands, the country has a population of more than 24 million, a number that is growing rapidly.

Smith blames Australia’s record immigration levels for his concern, and insists there’s nothing racist about his views.

Of his Fair Go campaign, Smith explained: “Since the launch of the Fair Go campaign, the major points have received little coverage and many journalists have misinterpreted my proposals and claimed that I am running an anti-immigration campaign. That is the opposite of my beliefs.

“I am a strong supporter of immigration but believe it should be set at a sensible and sustainable levels of about 70,000 immigrants a year, rather than today’s 200,000.”

Smith is one of many people in the public eye who believe this number is something we need to worry about, but that it’s also something that can easily be fixed by the government.

He also suggested that as a nation, we need to have a proper discussion about population.

While politicians constantly talk about population growth, they don’t explain what happens when the number reaches its peak. Furthermore, he says many people are afraid to talk about the issue because they fear they will be branded “anti-immigration”.

Smith also said that it’s an issue that almost every Aussie has a strong opinion on: “When it comes to my concern about population, I am not a lone eccentric.

“Eight out of 10 Australians believe we should have a population policy. It is common sense. Every Australian family has a population policy of its own,” the entrepreneur points out.

He explained how families could have 20 children but choose not to because they can’t possibly give all those children a fair and good life to – it’s exactly the same when it comes to Australia’s population, Smith says.

Others disagree, of course, in the belief that there’s plenty of room for everyone in Australia and that these kinds of views are just a cover for racism