Couples should be supported in controlling their fertility and in choosing to have fewer children, not more. Australia should be spending its money in support of family planning programs both here and overseas. If ever any group had a vested interest in promoting population growth it is the Business Council. The environmental problems associated with population growth can loosely be divided into stresses on natural resources such as fresh water, and pollution from human activities. But natural resources are another matter and biological scientists are sounding warnings.
Fresh water is a classic example.
The hydrological cycle delivers a finite amount of water that must be divided between the environment, agriculture, industry and domestic users. Increase the number of domestic users and you take away from one of the other sectors. Let us say we deliver to the environment that amount needed to maintain biodiversity. That means with more people there is less for industry or agriculture. That means fewer export dollars and a consequent loss in standard of living.