Barry Cohen's combative contribution to the de bate about Australia's population policy (The Australian, February 2) is a reaction to the debatable claims that Australia's population will grow to 35 million by 2050.

He supports those who argue that we should cut back our migration rate in the interests of our stressed environment and our strained infrastructure.

He ignores unchallenged figures that show our highly selective skilled immigration has a net benefit of $830 million in the first year (based on the 2008-09 migration intake). Twenty years hence, taxpayers would enjoy a positive impact of $1760m in the 20th year. From one year of principally skilled migration during a 20-year period, Australia would gain more than $20 billion net tax. This from just one year's worth of immigration at the present mix.

http://www.theaustralian.com.a...frg6zo-1225826885575