Professor David Flint chats to Mike Jeffreys on the week’s important issues & political news.

 

Professor David Flint chats to Mike Jeffreys on the week&rsquo;s important issues &amp; political news.
&nbsp;

Australia Overnight with Mike Jeffreys, 12am – 4am weekdays.

Wake Up Australia, 4am - 9:30am weekdays.

Australia Overnight with Mike Jeffreys, 12am – 4am weekdays.
Wake Up Australia, 4am - 9:30am weekdays.

Australia Overnight with Clinton Maynard

Australia Overnight with Clinton Maynard - Highlights

The issues that matter with Professor David Flint

Listen to the full show podcast - Wednesday - 18th December

Listen to the full show podcast - Wednesday - 18th December

Wake Up with Mike Jeffreys - Wednesday - 18th  December

Mike talks to Peter Strachan, National President of Sustainable Population Australia (SPA), about the impact of Australia’s rapid population growth.

Australia’s population grew by 552,000 in the year to June 2024, driven mostly by net overseas migration (445,600), according to new ABS figures. At an annual growth rate of 2.1%, Mr. Strachan warns this is putting immense pressure on housing, infrastructure, and the environment.

“Australia cannot sustain annual growth of over half a million people—nearly the size of Tasmania’s population,” says Mr. Strachan. “It drives up infrastructure costs, worsens housing availability, and puts power supplies under stress. In Sydney, adding 100,000 more people during a heatwave would likely cause power outages.”

The environmental impact is also significant. Reports link population growth to biodiversity loss, and Australia’s emissions reduction targets—43% by 2030 and net zero by 2050—become harder to meet. “At this rate, Australia’s population could double in just 33 years,” he adds.

While growth has slowed slightly from 2.5% to 2.1%, it remains comparable to nations like Madagascar and Ghana, which are struggling economically and environmentally.

Mr. Strachan also points to a rise in natural increase (106,400 births, up 3.4%), despite a record-low fertility rate of 1.5 children per woman. “To slow population growth, immigration must be the focus, as natural increases remain significant and are not declining as expected,” he concludes.

Mike talks to Peter Strachan, National President of Sustainable Population Australia (SPA), about the impact of Australia&rsquo;s rapid population growth.
Australia&rsquo;s population grew by 552,000 in the year to June 2024, driven mostly by net overseas migration (445,600), according to new ABS figures. At an annual growth rate of 2.1%, Mr. Strachan warns this is putting immense pressure on housing, infrastructure, and the environment.
&ldquo;Australia cannot sustain annual growth of over half a million people&mdash;nearly the size of Tasmania&rsquo;s population,&rdquo; says Mr. Strachan. &ldquo;It drives up infrastructure costs, worsens housing availability, and puts power supplies under stress. In Sydney, adding 100,000 more people during a heatwave would likely cause power outages.&rdquo;
The environmental impact is also significant. Reports link population growth to biodiversity loss, and Australia&rsquo;s emissions reduction targets&mdash;43% by 2030 and net zero by 2050&mdash;become harder to meet. &ldquo;At this rate, Australia&rsquo;s population could double in just 33 years,&rdquo; he adds.
While growth has slowed slightly from 2.5% to 2.1%, it remains comparable to nations like Madagascar and Ghana, which are struggling economically and environmentally.
Mr. Strachan also points to a rise in natural increase (106,400 births, up 3.4%), despite a record-low fertility rate of 1.5 children per woman. &ldquo;To slow population growth, immigration must be the focus, as natural increases remain significant and are not declining as expected,&rdquo; he concludes.

Australia still at ‘third world’ rates of population growth

Mike speaks with Amanda Lambros, relationship counselor and bestselling author, about psychology becoming the top career choice for female school leavers.

With Australia facing a severe shortage of mental health services, a new generation of students is turning to psychology to help fill the gap they’ve experienced throughout their lives.

Recent data from Year13, an organisation that helps students explore career paths, reveals that psychology was the most popular profession among high school students in 2024.

In a survey of over 45,000 students, psychology topped the list for females, while architect and mechanical engineer followed as overall career preferences. 

Among male students, psychology ranked 17th.

Mike speaks with Amanda Lambros, relationship counselor and bestselling author, about psychology becoming the top career choice for female school leavers.
With Australia facing a severe shortage of mental health services, a new generation of students is turning to psychology to help fill the gap they&rsquo;ve experienced throughout their lives.
Recent data from Year13, an organisation that helps students explore career paths, reveals that psychology was the most popular profession among high school students in 2024.
In a survey of over 45,000 students, psychology topped the list for females, while architect and mechanical engineer followed as overall career preferences.&nbsp;
Among male students, psychology ranked 17th.

The issues that matter with Professor David Flint

In 2 playlist(s)

Australia Overnight with Clinton Maynard

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips