Managing Australia's population targets requires all of government

Some Important Population Questions

In order to assist discussion of these alternative scenarios, let me put forward a few relevant policy questions:

• What kind of policies impacting on fertility, mortality and net overseas migration would be needed to deliver these population scenarios? It is not enough simply to nominate 'assumptions' regarding these variables in order to reach a selected population target. We need to examine whether the policies needed to achieve these 'assumptions' are feasible/workable. What would be the social and economic implications of these policies? Would these policies be acceptable to most Australians?

• Under which of these scenarios would the living standards of all Australians most likely be improved? One measure of this may be changes in per capita GDP. Also relevant would be the impact on income distribution and poverty as well as on the sustainability of government finances. The nature of the immigration policy we operate is likely to be crucial to this.

• Finally, what would be the implications of each scenario on the environment and infrastructure? What policies would be needed to manage these implications?

Given that at least a third of our immigration intake settles in Sydney and given Premier Carr's concerns with this, what would be the implications of a major change in immigration policy for Australia's largest city?

The Government's Approach to Population

Quality research and policy development underpin the Government's approach to population issues. While the Government does not consider it appropriate to set population targets, our policy priorities for population include a need to continue to:

• pursue family friendly policies that will help to minimise further falls in fertility;
• encourage more older workers to remain in the workforce longer;
• enhance our skilled migration intake and encourage a better dispersal of this; and
• assist improved environmental management practices and behaviour.

Government policies towards population and its implications for all aspects of Australian society should continue to be the subject of examination and informed discussion. I will continue to encourage and assist this.