Fueling Overpopulation

The Australian government — responding to a falling birth rate, looming labor market shortage and shrinking tax base — offered to give mothers $2,319 for each baby born after July 1, 2004. Indeed, the government treasurer added increased childbirth to the list of patriotic things Australians should do for their country.

Instead of fueling the overpopulation of the earth, however, I do not understand why the Australian government simply doesn't permit increased immigration to boost the population. I am sure there are workers with varying degrees of skills, from doctors to laborers, who would happily leave their impoverished countries for a better life.

Perhaps the Australian government's official "white only" immigration policy that it supposedly did away with only a few years ago is back in effect.