Set student numbers within a population plan

July 9, 2026

Abul Rizvi recommends that we “develop a long-term plan for net migration and to clearly explain that plan to the Australian public”. Yes, good idea though it needs to go beyond that. The government needs to develop an overall population plan, set net migration within that, and set overseas student numbers within that.

And when determining all these things, it must be within the parameter of the ecological carrying capacity of this country, particularly in light of climate change. According to a report last week by the Australian Security Leaders Climate Group, ’the convergence of extreme heat, food system pressures and geopolitical instability could trigger cascading impacts including food shortages, higher prices, panic buying and perhaps social unrest and conflict.’ We know we are already into a ‘Super El Nino’ and we know El Ninos generally affect our food production adversely through drought. Combine that with shortage of fertiliser, the higher price of diesel, throw in H5N1 for good measure, and we face a situation where we may not be able to feed even the current population this year.

The days of expansion are over. We have to limit human enterprise on this fragile continent. We must stabilise our numbers.