The SMH argues that a valid discussion of immigration's likely effect on Australia's environment is drowned out in the far louder argument about the fate of asylum seekers.
The businessman and environmentalist Dick Smith wants to reduce the migrant intake to 70,000 people from 210,000 a year. Mr Smith does, however, welcome more refugees and is campaigning to raise the humanitarian intake from 13,000 to 20,000 arrivals a year.
The SMH says the reason for this is that if immigration continues at the current level it will increase Australia's population to a size that the continent's environment cannot sustain, and his point about sustainability is valid and should be up for discussion.
The paper explains that discussion of immigration's likely effect on Australia's environment is drowned out in more rancorous argument about the fate of asylum seekers and anyone who tries to explain a moderate and rational basis for limiting immigration are being lumped together with xenophobes and racists. And it expresses concern that under this circumstance, important issues including conservation, climate change and the environment, caught in centrists may not be discussed.
It acknowledges that in both Labor and the Coalition there are many who understand the importance of the environmental issue and want their concerns to be reflected explicitly in platforms and policies. However, it says, they are not in charge.
The SMH points out that this leaves a very large group of voters, moderate and centrist in outlook.
