“Population” the new phrase for everything going wrong

Dan says:

07:56am | 01/05/10

‘it’s looking suspiciously like a politically correct way to close our borders and decide who should come to Australia and under what circumstances.’

And exactly what is wrong with being able to decide who should come to Australia?

I think I agree with you, Burke should be the Minister for planning, but both federal and state governments have a woeful record when it comes to planning, infrastructure and housing. Until these governments get their act together and actually do something useful, it is logical to slow immigration down and give current citizens the services first and worry about the rest of the world later. Once we have adiquate services and are living sustainably then we can think about adding more people.

PunchDrunk says:

08:35am | 01/05/10

It’s now become clear that successive Federal governments, in the name of economic growth, have taken a perilously short-sighted approach to immigration policy since John Curtin was PM.

Swinging Voter says:

09:00am | 01/05/10

Don’t be fooled - Tony Burke is the Minister for Copulation in disguise - a Catholic and against Voluntary Euthanasia, he is only there as a figurehead until after the election.

Daddio D says:

09:36am | 01/05/10

Who does Tony Burke think he is within the massive populations of our planet? Maybe we humans should go on a permanent strike – we should all stop making babies, forever. Everyone on this planet should stop making babies – howzat for an idea? There will be no need to strike a balance anywhere over anything. That way we won’t have a Tony Burke, no politicians, no looming elections, no TV soaps, journalists, priests, bishops or pope; no stupid glossy magazine buyers and their dinner chats, no need for money, condoms, pills, headaches, Hollywood or morphed reality – the list can go on – no women, no men, no children. We could even succeed in ensuring the end of all waste that humans complain about and dump in pollution. How about we leave the battle to God and Lucifer - the two of them started it all anyway. That’ll sort out the wrongs of population, including the battle for population of heaven and hell.

John says:

10:09am | 01/05/10

For decades our idiot politicians have largely ignored population
growth and related issues, especially patterns of rising
consumption and their environmental effects. So don’t expect too much from Burke who judging from his public performances is an intellectual lightweight. The PC or no PC debate is just another way of clouding the issue to maintain the status quo.

Daddio D says:

10:18am | 01/05/10

Let’s get a bit of balance here. Who does Tony Burke think he is within the massive populations of our planet? ‘Minister for Everything’ as Jo-anne labels him. Maybe we humans should go on a permanent strike – we should all stop making babies, forever. Everyone on this planet should stop making babies – howzat for an idea? There will be no need to strike a balance anywhere over anything. That way we won’t have a Tony Burke, any politicians, no looming elections, no TV soaps, journalists, priests, bishops or pope; no stupid glossy magazine buyers and their OTT dinner chats, no need for money, condoms, pills, headaches, Hollywood, holidays or morphed reality – the list can go on – no women, no men, no children.

We could even succeed in ensuring the life of the “Environment” and end all waste that we humans complain about in their dumping pollutions How about we leave the battle to God and Lucifer - the two of them started it all anyway. That’ll sort out the wrongs of population, including the battle for population of heaven and hell.

The Minister Everything doesn’t exist and Jo-anne shouldn’t’ be naming Tony Burke or any human being as a god. Typical media labelling; this wouldn’t exist if we all go on strike and leave it all to the angels. Imagine a glorious world without journalists like Jo-anne, or politicians like Burke. That would be Heaven on earth.

Shane From Melbourne says:

12:45pm | 01/05/10

Demographics affects everything- from national security (how many soldiers can a nation field in times of crisis or peacetime) to resource requirements (food, energy, water) to environmental concerns (how much population can a semi marginal continent support, how much waste will a population of 29 or 36 million produce) to health systems to housing and urban sprawl. Get the number right and most of the resultant planning is easier. Australia’s population should be stabilized at 22 million, but that will never happen.

Margaret says:

02:43pm | 01/05/10

For the past thrity years or so Australia has gone backward in its response to infrastructure, mainly because of a lack of money. Paying back huge debts + interest does not allow for inroads into huge programs like the provision of alternative energy, water catchment, planned decentralisation etc. I’ve never understood why the resources of the accumulated superannuation funds are not utilised at a competitive interest rate for such programs.  It’s surely better than the vagueries of the stock market. Or, what happened to Aussie Bonds?

As far as population is concerned the reunion program has to be the worst idea that ever happened.  In the past, reunions were permitted as long as the resident family supported their relatives for about three? years before they were eligible for any benefits. Once that scenario changed, scarce resources became even scarcer, particularly in terms of health,education and aged care. It’s not just the Feds who have dropped the ball. The State Governemnts also have neglected infrastructure in favour of growing the resources of their major cities, which are now growing out of control. There has been no incentives to businesses to relocate to regionala areas to grow their populations and take the pressure of already overcrowded cities. I don’t suppose that will change in the near futurre either.

bill says:

12:54am | 02/05/10

Population is a multiplier many problems dealing with pollution and efficiency and also affects all aspects of resource allocation. As such is already roughly accounted for in good government. The appointment of a population minister may have some merit but in this case it is probably instituted for political reasons so Rudd can dodge the bullet of his big Australia gaffe and his environment policy being on collision course and so he slides it off the agenda attempting to quarantine the debate into the ivory towers of the elites to be eventually pumped out again after the election with some PC spin.

Stop cramming in people for the sake of lining the pockets of business elites.
Bidding down wages and bidding up home prices is not improving the quality of life for the majority of working families however if you are one of the few business elites its good since they need the money to buy their expensive mansions with the FIRB laws still being loose.
Claytons back flips are expensive aren’t they, they still say back flip so hit credibility but when done half arsed they suggest capability is lacking as well.

Mavis says:

04:45pm | 02/05/10

Labor lost the debate on population. Now their spin doctors are in damage control and telling us “... the debate is not really that important”.