At about 2 per cent a year, Australia's population growth is twice the world average and around eight times the Western average. That's extreme growth in anyone's language.

If we continue at this rate, as recorded by the Australian Bureau of Statistics for the past three quarters, we will actually exceed 50 million by 2050.

Illustration: Suzanne White

Assuming for a moment that we ''only'' reach 36 million, we will still have the Howard and now Gillard governments' baby bonuses and record high net overseas migration policies to thank. Or to blame.

Former prime minister Kevin Rudd's target of 36 million people is not a big Australia — it is an obese, congested and overloaded Australia. It is an Australia we won't recognise, much less want. That's why it wasn't the backflip on the ETS or even the home insulation debacle that started the rot for "Big Kev". It was his passionate endorsement of a so-called "big Australia" in late October 2009 that started his downward spiral.