You are invited to a talk on "Big, Thirsty Australia: how population growth threatens our water security and sustainability" - based on Sustainable Population Australia's Discussion Paper of the same name.

Authors Jonathan Sobels and Sandra Kanck will explain further how most Australians are oblivious of the momentous changes taking place in Australia’s water security due to population growth and climate change. For 200 years, Australia’s expanding population has driven demand for more water. As population continues to grow due to high immigration levels, concerns about water security are also mounting. Recent major droughts (1997-2009 and 2017-19) have put pressure on water supplies in both small towns and capital cities, prompting state governments to commission large-scale desalination plants.

Population growth slowed (but did not halt) during the Covid-19 pandemic, when migrants leaving Australia briefly exceeded those arriving. Then the government restarted immigration at unprecedented levels: six times the long-term average! Even if the government succeeds in reducing immigration to pre-Covid levels, Australia will grow from 27 million to 40 million people inside of 40 years, and continue growing indefinitely thereafter.

There has been surprisingly little discussion about whether there will be enough water to support this goal. Despite Australia being the driest continent with the least run-off and most variable rainfall, water planning simply assumes the population projections of the Treasury Department must be achieved. Treasury makes these projections of high immigration levels in order to boost GDP, without considering natural resources or quality of life. It is assumed technological fixes, particularly desalination, will save the day. Is this techno-hubris? Is it wishful thinking?

This Discussion Paper argues those assumptions of water abundance are dangerously flawed. It explains why expanded desalination, rather than being a solution, is a further symptom of the financial, environmental and social costs of population growth. The paper argues strongly for net migration to return to pre-2005 average levels, around 70,000 per year, to achieve a stabilised population size.

Bring your questions along. Free. The Minor Works Building, 22 Stamford Ct Adelaide (off Sturt St)