Senator Cory Bernardi

AUSTRALIANS CALL RUDD OUT ON POPULATION SUSTAINABILITY

The Australian people have called Kevin Rudd’s bluff yet again – this time in the area of Australia’s population, Coalition spokesman for Population Policy, Senator Cory Bernardi, said today.

 

“Kevin Rudd has signed on to a ‘big Australia’ with no plans regarding sustainability, infrastructure and maintaining the quality of life that Australians currently enjoy” said Senator Bernardi.

 

“And Australians have noticed this.

 

“75 per cent of respondents in a recent poll by Essential Research believed that Australia could not handle a population of 35 million by 2050, due to a lack of infrastructure and services.

 

“And over 60 per cent thought that our environment could not cope with a larger population.^[1]

 

“Last year Kevin Rudd said ‘I actually believe in a big Australia. I make no apology for that.’^[2]

 

“Yet he has failed to detail a plan about how Australia can sustain such an increase in population, thereby washing his hands of responsibility for managing Australia’s population growth.

 

“Over the last few weeks we have seen that Kevin Rudd and his Government have repeatedly failed the Australian people and are increasingly removed from their concerns.

 

“Rudd’s blanket endorsement of a 60 per cent increase in Australia’s population by 2050, whilst ignoring the concerns of the Australian people, is more proof that the Rudd Government is out of touch with everyday Australians.”

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^[1] Essential Research, Essential Report, 1 March 2010, p.7.

^[2] Kevin Rudd, 7.30 Report, 22 October 2009.

LABOR’S MIXED MESSAGES ON POPULATION

Rather than taking action, the Rudd Government prefers to send mixed messages on population growth, Coalition spokesman for Population Policy, Senator Cory Bernardi, said today.

 

The Government’s Intergenerational Report, released today, projects that Australia’s population will rise to 36 million by 2050.

 

“However, Mr Swan was adamant that the projections in the report ‘are not carved in stone’,” said Senator Bernardi.

 

“He should tell that to Mr Rudd who, for the last few weeks, has been spouting about 36 million people in 2050 being ‘simply the reality we are now dealing with.’

 

“Mr Rudd is happy to accept the findings of the report as something that he cannot change, something that we should just get used to.

 

“Similarly, when talking about net migration, Mr Swan said ‘we can’t really impact on that dramatically.’

 

“How ridiculous. Of course the government can impact on migration levels.

 

“In fact, the Rudd Government recently reduced the skilled migration intake by 25,000 from previous planning levels.

 

“As Shadow Immigration Minister Scott Morrison has pointed out, a move away from skilled migration will impose costs on our nation, especially as our population increases.

 

“This Government is spending too much time saying ‘it’s not up to us’ and ‘we can’t do anything’ instead of making the tough decisions and taking action.”

REALITY RUINS RUDD’S RIDDLES

Kevin Rudd’s policy riddles have been mugged by reality, exposing his conflicting agendas, Coalition spokesman for population policy, Senator Cory Bernardi said today.

 

“Many of Mr Rudd’s objectives are in conflict with each other, especially with regard to Australia’s future population,” said Senator Bernardi.

 

“Kevin Rudd wants to reduce Australia’s emissions by 60 per cent of 2000 levels by 2050, yet he’s also happy to increase our population by 60 per cent by 2050, in all likelihood increasing Australia’s carbon emissions.

 

“Mr Rudd’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) will adversely impact our coal-fired power generators that provide Australia’s base load power, yet he has no plans to provide base load electricity for millions more Australians in coming years.

 

“Mr Rudd is also concerned about the ageing population and not having enough workers to support those in retirement. Yet his Government has watered down incentives designed to encourage self-reliance in retirement, such as the superannuation Concessional Contributions and the Co-Contribution scheme.

 

“And still on the ageing population, Mr Rudd has said ‘we must do all we can to lift workforce participation by reducing barriers to entry to the workforce.’^[1] Yet his own workplace changes have made it harder for Australian businesses and workers. Many workers have lost some entitlements (such as personal leave) and have been forced to take pay cuts as the Rudd revolution rolls back industrial relations to the 1970s.

 

“How does he plan to reconcile these incompatible objectives?

 

“Maybe Mr Rudd is now realising this himself, because recently he seemed to step away from his enthusiasm for a ‘big Australia’.

 

“A few weeks ago he said ‘I actually believe in a big Australia…I actually think it’s good news that our population is growing.’^[2]

 

“Now when asked of his support for a population of 35 million he said ‘I don’t have a view on that to be quite honest…This is simply the reality we are now dealing with.’^[3]

 

“The reality is that under Mr Rudd’s population agenda, a new city the size of Adelaide will be required every four years. He now needs to level with the Australian people about how he intends to provide adequate water, food, power, jobs, health services, infrastructure and housing.

 

“Rather than talking about targets whose failure he won’t be around to be blamed for, perhaps Mr Rudd can start explaining how he’ll manage the more than one million new Australians expected in the next few years.

 

“Mr Rudd, it’s time to stop talking in riddles and level with the Australian people. It’s time for you to take action in planning for Australia’s future and its growing population.”

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[1] Kevin Rudd, speech to Australia Day reception, Melbourne, 18.1.10.

[2] Kevin Rudd, 7:30 Report, ABC TV, 22.1.10.

[3] ‘Rudd cools on a ‘big Australia’’, AAP, 29.1.10.

WHEN WILL RUDD REIN IN GILLARD?

The Prime Minister needs to rein in Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Senator Cory Bernardi said today.

“Ms Gillard has attacked Tony Abbott’s comments on virginity, when he was simply discussing what advice he would give his own daughters,” Senator Bernardi said.

“Ms Gillard has been quoted as saying ‘Australian women want to make their own choices and they don’t want to be lectured by Mr Abbott.’

“Ms Gillard should take her own advice, because Australian families want to make their own choices and don’t want to be lectured by Ms Gillard.

“Kevin Rudd has said that personal and moral issues are something for young people to ‘sort out with their friends, with their families, with their mums, with their dads.’ Which is exactly what Mr Abbott was discussing – what advice he would give within his own family.

“It’s time for Kevin Rudd to call Ms Gillard to order for her gratuitous and misleading public statement.”