A record number of parties have registered ahead of this year’s election. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be digging into the newest entrants to political thunderdome. Next up is the Stable Population Party.
Better, not bigger is the Population Party’s mantra.
With a major focus on “the everything issue”, party president William Bourke says they are equally concerned with environment, economic and social wellbeing.
“We believe all of Australia’s and the worlds major problems are linked to the underlying issue of population growth. And it will affect young people more than anyone.”
Despite not having children, Bourke says his party is collectively campaigning for Australia’s children and grandchildren.
“Our primary model of responsibility is to pass on a sustainable Australia for future generations.”
The Stable Population Party began in 2010 when a collection of sustainability activists decided they needed to do something about the issue of population, so they set out to build a grassroots community party.
Three years on, they now have more than 700 members and according to their own research one in every ten Australian’s have heard about them, with 1/4 considering voting 1 for a sustainable population.
According to the SPP, more people mean less resources so their key objective is to stop the current projection of 40 million people by 2050, with aims to stablisise Australia’s population at 26 million.
This September 7, make your vote count… http://t.co/N4buptrt5q #auspol #ausvotes #QandA
— VOTE 1 STABLE POP’N (@PopulationParty) August 12, 2013
Party Policies
Limit government birth payments to each woman’s first two children
This policy is as straightforward as it reads, however the SPP affirm they do not support restrictions on family size – “we simply support the withdrawal of government incentives to have large families.”
Adopt a balanced migration program
Also known as “zero net migration”, SPP are campaigning to see annual permanent immigration equivalent to emigration. This would bring the permanent immigration down from 250,000 a year to 80,000.
As well as the aforementioned policies SPP also advocates for relieving overstretched infrastructure, easing the cost of living pressures, minimising overdevelopment and protecting the environment.
With the everyday economist promoting a large population for a booming economy, Bourke suggests Australia doesn’t need population growth to ensure our economic wellbeing.
“Implementing more infrastructure is not the answer. We need to recognise we live in a finite country and you can’t just keep adding infrastructure and chasing our tails.”
The Stable Population Party has candidates standing for election in all eight states and territories as well as 10 lower house seats, including Melbourne.
Bridget Rollason is a third-year Bachelor of Journalism student and upstart’s Fashion and Lifestyle editor. You can follow her on Twitter: @Didgeriedoo.
