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

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

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 - Full Show

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.

Psychology tops of the list for female school leavers

Christmas can be a triggering time when you’re divorced, but apparently not for
some high profile conscious uncouplers, like Australian hospitality magnate, Justin
Hemmes.

He recently went on a family getaway with his 27-year-old girlfriend, his ex-wife and
her partner, and his two children.

And while this sort of utopian congeniality is something many divorcees strive for,
Family Lawyer, Nicci Bilinsky, tells Mike she believes these happy family glossy stories can be damaging for families who are going through acrimonious divorces.

“Some people don’t know how to introduce a new partner to the kids, let alone go on
holiday as one big happy family,” Nicci says.

“Communication is key, and if you don’t want to end up in ongoing conflict, pick up
the phone or send a text to make a mutual plan about how you’re going to introduce
new partners to your children.”

Christmas can be a triggering time when you&rsquo;re divorced, but apparently not for some high profile conscious uncouplers, like Australian hospitality magnate, Justin Hemmes.
He recently went on a family getaway with his 27-year-old girlfriend, his ex-wife and her partner, and his two children.
And while this sort of utopian congeniality is something many divorcees strive for, Family Lawyer, Nicci Bilinsky, tells Mike she believes these happy family glossy stories can be damaging for families who are going through acrimonious divorces.
&ldquo;Some people don&rsquo;t know how to introduce a new partner to the kids, let alone go on holiday as one big happy family,&rdquo; Nicci says.
&ldquo;Communication is key, and if you don&rsquo;t want to end up in ongoing conflict, pick up the phone or send a text to make a mutual plan about how you&rsquo;re going to introduce new partners to your children.&rdquo;

Wake Up with Mike Jeffreys - Wednesday - 18th December

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Australia Overnight with Clinton Maynard

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