I think you are agreeing with my suggestion that we should first decide Australia's optimum carrying capacity. This would be a breakthrough for our politicians who don't even want to look at the question. They are negligently ignorant.
Then we need to decide a policy issue; Do we want to maximise population to a number of people compatible with an 'acceptable' standard of living, or do we want to maximise the wealth and wellbeing of existing citizens.
Having decided that the question then arises; What is the limiting factor? It might be water, some might say carbon emmissions, some might say vegetation clearing.
It is important to first agree that they should be asked before answering the latter questions. Baaci
