“This is what would happen if Australian halted immigration”, the introduction to ditzy Fairfax economics correspondent Jessica Irvine’s latest bleatings begins before a string of subheads lists the worst woes to befall any one nation since the 10 plagues hit Egypt: “Population growth would halve … Economic growth would falter … Our workforce would age quicker … The federal budget would blow out … Roads would remain crowded, housing expensive … Education and tourism would suffer … It’d be harder to find a doctor.