Recent reports have revealed that by the year 2049, Australia’s projected population will be about 35 million. And according to a recent Age/Nielsen poll, four out of ten Australians believe that it would be far too many people.

While the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd talks up the idea of “big Australia,” the general public are a bit more dubious about the expansion. Only 30 percent of Australian people think that 35 million would be just about right.

The Australian population has recently gone over 22 million, due to near-record amounts of net migration, as well as the highest birth rate since the 1970’s. Net immigration of 278, 000 is part of the reason for the increase.

A spokesman for Mr Rudd said that the Australian Government believe that a bigger population is relevant in a national security context because the country’s national security includes the capacity to grow and prosper as a nation.

You can read the full story at theage.com.au.