Government Population Strategy

The development group Urban Taskforce’s chief executive, Aaron Gadiel, says the Federal Government's sustainable population strategy released last Friday "avoids imposing any damaging population caps on the nation or on the major cities. We're pleased that the Federal Government has walked away from the notion that some parts of Australia are at carrying capacity".

However this seems rather to distort what the strategy actually says. The Federal Government focuses on boosting growth in regional areas and away from the outer suburbs of capital cities.
The report - Sustainable Australia, Sustainable Communities - does not set a population target, saying adopting one would limit the Government's ability to use the migration program to deal with skills gaps and labour shortages. However Population Minister Tony Burke says the strategy's focus is on where people live rather than setting an arbitrary figure for the size of the population.
Mr Burke says there are natural caps on growth such as the infrastructure and water-supply limits.
"There are natural limits to growth in Australia - it will never be a case of free-for-all," he said.
The report says a balance must be struck between the principles of economic sustainability, making communities livable and environmental sustainability.
Mr Burke says the Government is aiming to encourage business hubs in the outer suburbs and regional areas so people can find employment closer to home.