When Germany opened its borders to refugees during the Syrian war, Angela Merkel was saluted by progressives for her humane policy. “We can do this,” she declared. But her decision had unintended effects. The European migrant crisis ensued.

Thousands drowned crossing the Mediterranean, including three year old Alan Kurdi whose body was found washed ashore. Poor countries with populations as small as two million were overwhelmed – not for lack of sympathy but rather inadequate resources to handle the sheer weight of numbers moving through in search of a safer, better life in northern Europe.

In response, dark forces were mobilised, their aim being to convert compassion into distrust for their own political ends. Nationalist leaders were voted in across Europe. Britain continues to struggle with Brexit.

While those forces have had significant successes in Europe, the same is not so here. Australians overwhelmingly support immigration and reject monolithic values. 82 percent of us agree “immigrants improve Australian society by bringing new ideas and cultures”. Another 80 percent feel immigrants are good for the economy. Big business and economists argue economic growth will stall to everyone’s detriment if immigration levels are cut.

But just as many Australians who support immigration are concerned about its practical effects at a time of growing uncertainty. People worry about the impact of unfettered population growth on our cities, housing prices, public transport, hospitals and schools.

Regional Australia is feeling the pressure too. We need only look to the mass fish deaths in Darling River to see growing numbers are taking a toll on the fragile natural environment of our island home. As an Australian National University study says, “As the world’s driest inhabited continent with unique flora and fauna, Australia’s environment may not be able to cope with rapid population growth”.

The result is that Australians are ‘pro-immigrant’ yet ‘anti-immigration’.

This leads us to ask, should immigration be boosted, maintained or curbed?

On Tuesday 26 March we took the debate out of the mainstream media and onto the IQ2 stage at Sydney Town Hall with four experts invited to take on the motion “Should Australia curb immigration?” in front of a live, active audience.

With powerful arguments presented at both ends of the spectrum, it was a debate that raised issues from urban planning to government policy, environmental impacts to economic advantages and more.

With thanks to our IQ2 media partner