The Property Council of Australia says the Gillard Government’s Population Strategy fails the credibility test and it runs the risk of damaging Australia’s long-term prosperity.
“This is not a detailed plan for managing population growth and to describe it as a policy or a strategy would be stretching credibility,” Property Council CEO Peter Verwer says.
“Sustainable and managed population growth is vital for long-term national prosperity.”
“We need to grow our population if we are to meet critical skills shortages and provide for an ageing population, which needs taxation revenue to fund vital services.”
“At a time when Australia is increasingly hostage to global commodity cycles, it is crucial that we invest in the cities that generate 80 percent of our economic growth.”
“We also need to join up regional and urban policy programs, seriously address an ageing community, skills and infrastructure shortages and climate change.”
“Unfortunately, the slim Strategy simply contains motherhood statements, previously announced initiatives and ongoing government programs.”
“The Strategy says it aims to secure economic prosperity, liveability and environmental protection – but does nothing to achieve these goals.”
“It is a political strategy not a strategy for managing complex policy issues, as promised.”
“The Government appears to have ignored the recommendations of its own advisory panels, the ideas in its own discussion paper and its own rhetoric about housing affordability, skills and congestion challenges.”
“The bottom line is that nothing will change as a result of this policy and it is a major disappointment,” Mr Verwer said.
The Property Council has consistently argued that the challenge is not whether to grow our population, but rather how the nation manages growth.
“The Strategy does not set prosperity targets or growth bands or provide a rigorous framework,” he says.
“Setting clear and definable targets that will drive programs for improving competitiveness, liveability and sustainability across the nation is essential to developing a robust public policy framework.”
Mr Verwer says the promise of dealing with environmental issues, housing affordability, land release for housing, infrastructure provision and city planning issues was ignored.
“Governments that are scared of growth are simply scared of making tough decisions,” he says.
“The pressure is now on the Government to announce a persuasive urban policy if it is to prove that it is serious about creating more sustainable communities.”
Source: Property Council of Australia, http://www.propertyoz.com.au/Article/NewsDetail.aspx?p=16&id=4364
I maintain that it not only feeds into the economy but also is the last refuge of the property bubble and the spruikers know it. I am talking purely about numbers here with no reference to where they are coming from, which is irrelevant to me. What is relevant to me is protecting and preserving this country and it’s way of life for our children.
As it was in the news this week I thought i’d post a few observations here as I’ve already posted on AustralianPropertyForum.com. Firstly, the Sustainable Australia, Sustainable Communities report was a waste of tax payer money full of wishy, washy motherhood statements designed to placate the ‘hoi-poloi’ momentarily. Burke did make one telling statement about the lack of a target where he conceded that opening the immigration flood gates was strategy number one for dealing with the GFC and is likely to be strategy number one for dealing with any economic turmoil that might arise in the future and hence the government doesn’t want to be constrained by figures and targets. Mealy mouthed Burke’s heart isn’t in it anyway and he openly supported Rudd’s ‘Big Australia’ which simply became ‘Sustainable Australia’ after Labor realized how deeply unpopular it is. Another Labor dogs breakfast policy.
Another thing I noticed is the immense pressure on the government from multiple fronts to keep increasing the immigration intake. The Australian newspaper, in particular, is seething with calls for population growth today. Mining, banking, housing and education industries and interests come immediately to mind as constantly lobbying for exponential population growth, leaving the communities to deal with the fallout.
Brisbanite
Australian Property Bubble Forum