Dick Smith (AC), Prof. Ian Lowe and Prof. Anne Poelina have joined over nineteen thousand Australians in signing a position statement calling for the stabilisation of Australia's population.
Michael Bayliss, Communications Manager for Sustainable Population Australia (SPA), says "the SPA position statement has attracted thousands of signatures in the lead up to the Federal Election. Australians, from all walks of life, are are angry about the impact of rapid population growth on their lives and are frustrated that their voices are not being heard by political leaders."
"Before he was elected, Mr Albanese stated that Australian's needed a 'mature' debate on population" says Mr Bayliss. "Australians have spoken and are waiting for our Federal leaders to meet us at the table."
"Survey after survey demonstrates that most Australians want population growth to stop, demonstrated most graphically by Australia's total fertility rate of 1.5 children per woman. Congestion, cost of living, a housing crisis, along with concerns for the environment and water security are just a few of the reasons why Australians are seeking real leadership on this issue.
"Unfortunately, none of the major parties have the courage to put the brakes on the destructive Big Australia agenda this Federal election" says Mr Bayliss. "While a few of the minor parties and independents are advocating for lower immigration, this if often in the absence of good environmental policies."
Peter Strachan, SPA National President, says SPA calls for policies that would anable Australia's population to stabilise below 30 million. "This could be achieved easily by Federal policies adopting lower net overseas migration (NOM) targets of 60,000 to 80,000 per year," said Mr Strachan.
"Australia must also honour its global commitments. SPA also calls for 0.7% of Gross National Income to be spent on foreign aid with emphasis on family planning and reproductive health services."
Mr Strachan says that SPA calls for comprehensive climate and environmental conservation policies in Australia, "Every recent State of the Environment report says that human population density has a direct and detrimental impact on the natural environment, ranking higher than climate change."
Mr Strachan says that voters are tired of having their voices dismissed by vested interests, including property developers, big business and, counterintuitively, many environment and conservation organisations. "Voters are frustrated, seeing the population question shut down as racist or anti-migration when the fundamental fact that we can't have infinite growth on a finite continent is ignored."
"The incredible response to SPA's Position Statement demonstrates that Australians want a rational path forward that is popular with voters but remains sadly absent in the political discourse."
