Population policy in Australia: cut off at the impasse.

Abstract

This paper examines proposals for an Australian policy. 25 years of research and debate produced no population policy due to disagreement about the nature and purpose of an Australian population. The general goals of all policy ideas equate to the management of population growth. Major obstacles hinder the development of a new population policy. There are different aspects of population, while many proposals emphasize only a particular aspect. Thus, a suitable means of defining medium-term demographic goals is with reference to a ceiling on the growth rate. Managing population growth using a ceiling constitutes an active or proactive population policy. Progress towards an active population policy should consider three innovations: 1) it should relate to population monitoring; 2) it should serve multiple goals; and 3) it should yield immediate benefits and responsibility for future prospects. Moreover, adoption of an active population policy offers a means of making progress with a range of national concerns.