Article: Burke gets job for national population strategy

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Burke gets job for national population strategy

Burke gets job for national population strategy
GABRIELLE DUNLEVY
April 3, 2010 - 12:36PM

The federal government will respond to concerns Australia is marching towards an unsustainable population by drawing up a strategy that first considers the benefits of growth.

Tony Burke will be appointed as Australia's first population minister and will draw up a strategy on how to support the growing population and its effect on infrastructure and services, housing supply, urban congestion, the environment, agriculture and water supply.

He will retain his other portfolio of agriculture, fisheries and forestry.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has been under pressure to better examine the nation's population, which is on a trajectory to reach 35.9 million by 2050.

He told reporters in Canberra today that the appointment of a population minister came after a month of consideration.

"Many Australians have legitimate concerns about the sustainability of the population levels in different parts of the country," Mr Rudd said.

Mr Rudd has previously said he supports a "big Australia" - and doesn't believe growth has to be a bad thing.

An early priority of the strategy will be identifying the opportunities of a growing population and how regional areas could be developed.

In devising the strategy, the prime minister said Mr Burke must be "acutely mindful" of the positive implications of growth on the economy.

Mr Burke said his new portfolio touched every area of service delivery, and he would consult widely as he developed the strategy over the coming 12 months.

"These issues have never previously been co-ordinated at a government level and they require a high level of co-operation with every level of government," he said.

Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison said Mr Burke had become "minister for a big Australia" - as Mr Rudd had not changed his mind about the need to limit population growth.

"We need to follow a more rigorous planning pathway towards what is sustainable growth," he told AAP.
Mr Morrison said the government had fallen out of step with the public on the issue, and the move was aimed at catching up.

The opposition already had a parliamentary secretary for population policy, and had been examining the issue for months, he said.

"It's a bit late now I think to turn around and try and backfill his policy," he said.

Australian Greens leader Bob Brown welcomed the announcement of a population plan, but wanted it made public before the election.

Senator Brown was also worried about the choice of Mr Burke, who he said had failed in the forestry portfolio.

"He works very well with the big end of town ... but he's been a very poor communicator with the wider populous and he needs to change that if he's going to get population strategy right," he told reporters in Hobart.

Mr Burke should support a national inquiry into population growth, cut skilled migration and rule out a population of 35 million people by 2050, Senator Brown said.

AAP

[ozbob]

Premier and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Anna Bligh
04/04/2010

PREMIER WELCOMES NEW FEDERAL MINISTER FOR POPULATION

Premier Anna Bligh today welcomed the Prime Minister's announcement of a new Minister for Population, who will be responsible for the development of Australia's first comprehensive Population Strategy.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has today announced that he will recommend to the Governor General the appointment of the Hon Tony Burke MP to the new office of Minister for Population in the Treasury Portfolio.

"Last week, I called for a national population and infrastructure plan to help ensure we are better prepared to meet the needs of our growing community in the future.

"Queensland is one of the fastest growing states in the county which presents us with great challenges as well as great opportunities.

"A national population strategy will help to ensure we are building the new schools, new hospitals and public transport networks, where and when they are needed."

"The Queensland Growth Management Summit held over two days in Brisbane last week showed that Queenslanders understand the difficult choices that confront all of us and are up to the challenge."

"The Queensland Government stands ready to work in partnership with the new Minister for Population.

""Given our growth, Queensland should be one of the first States the new Minister for Population visits."

==============================================================