A Dream ? Or a Nightmare ?

When we look at Chinese cities the visual impact is not welcoming.  Many citizens cover their faces with protective masks to avoid breathing the noxious air and seeing a blue sky is a rare occurrence. That could be the fate of the population in most world cities if our numbers continue to grow out of control.

There are about seven billion of us on this planet and we expect to reach ten billion by the middle of this century.  The disposition of this population is in a state of flux.  A mixture of civil war and a desire to escape poverty is bringing a vast exodus from the Middle East and Africa and their numbers are finding increasing resistance in the rest of the world.

Australia is about to have a population of  twenty-four million and that will make us the last virtually undeveloped continent.   Our population is concentrated in a few major cities on the coastline and a small number of inland towns.   We are one of the least populated land masses on planet Earth.

What we are seeing in Europe could be a portend of the future.  Vast masses of people are on the move to escape the civil wars that are seeing their homes and livelihoods destroyed while others are making what can be described as an " economic migration " to where they hope to find a better life - and this is unstoppable    They attempt to cross oceans in leaky boats - and many drown.  They starve and freeze waiting to cross blocked frontiers.   They are preyed upon by people smugglers who rob them of their treasures and abandon them - but still they come in ever increasing numbers.

We experienced the arrival of " boat people " at the end of the Vietnam war and only recently have we managed to stop this inward flow of refugees from many other countries trying to force their way here and demand shelter.   Fortunately for us, it is Europe that has become the chosen destination of the moment with the illusion that its streets are paved with gold.  Destination choice is volatile - and it may change with astonishing speed.

There  are worrying events happening in our part of the world.  Papua New Guinea, our nearest neighbour is showing signs of political separation and an authoritarian tendency and our two nations are a short canoe ride apart.   Indonesia has a growing Islamic militancy and many of its islander people may find that unacceptable. India - with the worlds second largest population - is on our doorstep and in desperate need of modernization.   Should it take a closer embrace of the Hindu religion, others numbering at least twice the present Australian population could be looking for a new home.

It is almost certain that Australia will experience a new migrant wave later this century and if the rest of the world regards us as an almost empty continent we will probably be under pressure to accept these incoming numbers.   We would be wise to draw from the experience of what is happening in Europe and have plans in place of how to disperse and settle these incoming hordes - should they eventuate.