Bigger or Better?: Australia's Population Debate

A comprehensive and detailed analysis of the controversial debate about Australia’s population numbers, this book clarifies the subject and addresses the many misconceptions. It provides a historic account of Australia’s population growth and a study of official data while examining the components of that growth in detail, including birth rates and immigration as well as the more recent trend of an aging population. In addition, this thorough account also discusses the motives of the interested parties, both those who promote population growth and those who argue against it.

Ian Lowe is the president of the Australian Conservation Foundation, an emeritus professor of science, technology, and society at Griffith University in Brisbane, and an adjunct professor at both Sunshine Coast University and Flinders University. He is the author of A Big Fix, A Voice of Reason, and Living in the Hothouse.