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Dick Smith's million dollar plan to cull Australian immigrants

Former Australian of the Year Dick Smith has launched a million dollar TV advertising campaign calling for immigration to be slashed.

The philanthropist wants politicians to develop an immigration plan that more than halves the number of people arriving in Australia every year.

He's based his new ad on the infamous 1980s “grim reaper” AIDS commercial and even hired John Stanton who voiced the original ad.

"We're told that endless economic growth is the solution to all our problems... growth, growth, go for growth… but what if growth is the problem?” the haunting ad states.

Handing out pitchforks at Tuesday’s launch, Dick Smith said he hopes his new take on immigration will trigger action on population growth.

Dick Smith said the motive for his campaign was not racist. Source: Getty
Dick Smith said the motive for his campaign was not racist. Source: Getty

“Endless growth will destroy Australia as we know it today,” Smith said.

Smith pointed out that Australian families could have up to 20 kids if they chose to but said "none do" because that level of growth is simply impractical.

"They decide on a number they can give a good life to but our major political parties have no similar plan for Australia.

Smith suggests “endless growth and endless greed – meaning the finite wealth has to be divided between more people, and that means less for most.”

He's based his new ad on the infamous 1980's grim reaper aids commercial and even hired John Stanton to voice it. Source: 7 News
He's based his new ad on the infamous 1980's grim reaper aids commercial and even hired John Stanton to voice it. Source: 7 News

He insists his call for immigration to be cut from 200,000 to 70,000 a year is not racist because that was the level under Prime Minister Paul Keating.

"Dick and I have done very well in life but we're going to die in probably the next 20 years and what are we going to leave behind?” Smith's wife Pip added.

“We're concerned about the life our grandchildren and probably their children will have."

Former Australian of the Year, Dick Smith, has launched a million dollar TV advertising campaign calling for immigration to be slashed. Source: Getty
Former Australian of the Year, Dick Smith, has launched a million dollar TV advertising campaign calling for immigration to be slashed. Source: Getty

Last year's Census revealed for the first time the main source countries for new immigrants has shifted from Europe, particularly the UK, to China and India.

But for Smith it's not about where new immigrants come from – it's about how many are coming.

Demographics Group managing director Bernard Salt told 7 News the “problem at the moment is Melbourne and Sydney”.

The philanthropist wants politicians to develop an immigration plan that more than halves the number of people arriving in Australia every year. Source: Getty
The philanthropist wants politicians to develop an immigration plan that more than halves the number of people arriving in Australia every year. Source: Getty

“Melbourne is growing at an unsustainable rate, 110,000 people per year.”

Smith is also calling for company tax to be raised from the current rate of 27. 5 per cent to 45 per cent, a mindset not shared by the Turnbull government, which currently pushing to have that number brought down even further.

The entrepreneur is also calling for the wealthy to pay an inheritance tax, claiming ordinary Aussies have been conned by the super wealthy.