Tony Burke? A population minister?
Why on earth would we need a population minister? An aging population is a problem in Australia and it needs to be youthened down, youthen the average age down to ~25.
Posted on 04/03/2010 4:50:11 AM PDT by myknowledge
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has announced that Tony Burke will take on the new role of minister for population.
Mr Rudd says over the next 12 months the Government will be developing a strategy for managing Australia's population growth.
He says the impact of population changes on regional Australia will be an early priority, and says population growth is expected to be slower over the next 40 years than it was over the past 40.
"Our challenge is to make sure that we get our future population levels as right as possible," he said.
"And against that analysis make sure we're planning properly for the infrastructure needs, for the housing needs, for the transport needs, for the regional needs. And that's why we're doing what we're doing."
Mr Burke says the Government will consult widely with the public as it develops its population policy, which he says will have implications for almost every corner of government policy.
"Whether it be urban planning, whether it be transport, provision of health services and other government services, right through to water infrastructure," he said.
"These issues have never previously been coordinated at a government level, and they require a high level of cooperation with every level of government."
Mr Burke will retain his current portfolio of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
Greens leader Senator Bob Brown welcomed the creation of the position but questioned whether Mr Burke was the right man for the job.
Senator Brown says Mr Burke should look at cutting skilled migration and increasing overseas aid to help keep Australia's population below the predicted 35 million people by 2050.
But he says Mr Burke's track record as the current minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is a cause for concern.
"He works very well with the big end of town and he's worked very well with the big forest industries and the pulp mill organisers, but he's been a very poor communicator with the wider populace," he said.
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says the choice of Mr Burke is a snub to Immigration Minister Chris Evans.
"It's interesting that the Prime Minister has chosen to put a different minister in charge of population than the one in charge of our borders," he said.
"And to me appointing Mr Burke to run population is an implicit vote of no confidence in the Immigration Minister Senator Evans.
Tony Burke? A population minister?
Why on earth would we need a population minister? An aging population is a problem in Australia and it needs to be youthened down, youthen the average age down to ~25.
“Youthen(ed)”? Is that really a word?
Maybe I should say ‘rejuvenate’ instead.
Is Australia going to capsize too??
I don’t think this is a “Population Minister” role in a sense that you’re implying. But details are needed.
>>>>”Our challenge is to make sure that we get our future population levels as right as possible,” he said.
>>>>”And against that analysis make sure we’re planning properly for the infrastructure needs, for the housing needs, for the transport needs, for the regional needs. And that’s why we’re doing what we’re doing.”
>>>>”Whether it be urban planning, whether it be transport, provision of health services and other government services, right through to water infrastructure,” he said.
For starters I’d like to know:
1. Will this be limited to only one newly created role i.e. “Population Minister”? I’m not for unnecessary creation of gov’t jobs and departments. It can be costly, lead to inefficiencies, and further bureaucracy.
2. What are/will be the specific accountabilities, and deliverables of this role?
3. What will be the specific nature of interface with other federal departments, namely, “Department of Immigration”, and also “Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government”.
http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/infrastructure/baf/baf_projects.aspx
Australian population growth is double the world average – March 26, 2010
“The majority of the growth, 66 per cent, was due to overseas migration, with the remainder, 34 per cent, due to there being more births than deaths.”
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