our population growth will increase for years

just a couple of reasons why the immigrations numbers have been increased....we need more taxpayers.....to pay off the stimulous from the GFC, and to compensate for the loss of tax when the BB's retire...
extract from the article by the demographer Bernard Salt.........

there is, of course, a sizeable and growing body of opinion that argues that the projected growth is environmentally unsustainable. This may well be the case. However, if Australia is to adopt a slower-growth (let alone a no-growth) trajectory, its people and its politicians will need to think differently.

Perhaps those who advocate slow growth or no growth could begin by outlining precisely where they would cut spending to compensate for a slower-growing or even contracting tax base.

Fewer workers (because of exiting baby boomers) and higher debt (because of stimulus spending to offset the impact of the global financial crisis) is not a good start to the new decade.

And this is especially the case if there is a rising anti-growth segment that does not make the connection between this nation's addiction to public (and private) spending and a projected diminished capacity to generate tax.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/executive-lifestyle/migrants-key-to-replacing-baby-boomers/story-e6frga5o-1225781339809

and a link to most of his recent articles...
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/opinion/bernard-salt-demographer