Continuation of a third-world pace of population growth, at 2.1% pa, puts further pressure on Australia's housing, infrastructure and fragile environment, says Sustainable Population Australia (SPA).
SPA national President Peter Strachan was responding to today's ABS population figures that revealed Australia grew by 552,000 in the year to 30 June 2024, more than 80 per cent of which resulted from net overseas migration (NOM of 445,600).
"Australia cannot afford to keep growing by over half a million people, or by almost the population of Tasmania (575,400) each year," says Mr. Strachan. "Infrastructure costs associated with that number of people damage the economy and add pressure to housing availability and cost, largely caused by demand exceeding supply.
"Australia's power supplies are approaching physical limits, especially in Sydney. Put another 100,000 people in the Sydney Basin and add a heatwave, and power outages are almost certain.
"Most significantly, the environment will suffer because of more human population growth. Both state and federal State of Environment reports cite population growth as a driver of biodiversity decline.
"Greenhouse gas reduction targets of 43 per cent on 2005 levels by 2030 and net zero by 2050 become harder to meet while population growth continues at this rate, which if continued, would see Australia's population double in 33 years.
"Even though population growth has fallen from 2.5% to 2.1% since the March quarter's figures, it is still comparable to Madagascar, Gambia, Ghana and the Ivory Coast, none of which are models of economic or environmental success."
Mr. Strachan noted there had been a surprising rise in natural increase (106,400, a rise of 3.4% over the previous year.)
"This comes despite the fertility rate falling to 1.5 children per woman. The main lesson we can draw from this is that, if population growth is to be reduced, it must come from immigration, as natural increase is still significant and not falling as expected."
