Sustainable Population Australia media release, 17 May 2008
"With the announcement by Minister, Chris Evans, that Australia is opening its doors to a massive increase in unskilled migration, the last vestiges of any appearance that the Rudd Government is committed to environmental sustainability or social equity have been swept aside", said Dr John Coulter, National President of Sustainable Population Australia, today.
"The total intake is planned to exceed 300,000, the largest intake since the migration scheme started in 1947 according to Minister Evans."
Despite having been asked, Dr Coulter said that "Nowhere has the government answered the following questions:
- How does increasing our population by more than a million every three years make our climate change/greenhouse emission problem easier to solve?
- Every city in Australia is water stressed. How does increasing our population by an additional 5% every three years make our urban water problem easier to solve?
- It is doubtful whether in a climate changed, post peak oil world Australia can maintain water supply to its farmers. How does such rapid population growth make it easier to maintain our rivers, soils and food production?
- Australians have one of the highest per capita environmental impacts in the world. An increase in the Australian population has a larger global impact than the addition of a person just about anywhere else in the world. How does the Rudd Government morally justify increasing Australia's demand on the global environment at the expense of many peoples far less well off?
- Australia has an acute housing shortage. More and more Australians cannot afford the rising price of a house or rent. One of the main drivers of this situation has been clearly identified as our already high immigration intake. How does Kevin Rudd justify making this situation even worse for 'working families'?
- Australia has approximately 5% unemployment and another 5% of under employment. How does the Rudd Government justify bringing in unskilled workers when there are Australians unemployed and underemployed seeking work?
- There is a rapidly growing global food shortage. Increasing Australia's population is leading to more and more high quality, well watered, food producing land going under housing and related urban infrastructure. Where is Kevin Rudd's much advertised Christian morality?
This push for large population increase both by increased immigration and by measures to increase fertility rates lays bear the hollowness of the Rudd Government's claim to be concerned about the environment and environmental sustainability. It reveals a government saying one thing but, with no understanding of or thought for long term sustainability, relentlessly pursuing a greatly expanded business-as-usual course" concluded Dr Coulter.
For further information or comment: Dr John Coulter Tel: (08) 8388 2153
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