Beattie call for 50 million reflects vested interests (SEPT)
Queensland Premier Peter Beattie’s call yesterday for an Australian population of 50 million
echoes those by vested interests of the housing, construction and real estate industries,
according to Sustainable Population Australia inc (SPA).
National President of SPA, Dr John Coulter, says that this is not surprising given the very large
donations that members of these groups make to political parties.
“But far more important than this distortion of democracy is the clear lack of any concern for the
natural environment,” says Dr Coulter.
“The most recent work by the Hadley Centre in the UK indicates that global temperatures are
likely to rise sharply in the next few years as natural cycles augment the increase in greenhouse
gas emissions. Eastern and southeastern Australia will be prone to even worse ‘droughts’, water
shortages and crop failures than experienced in the last few years,” he says.
“The industries that Beattie and his fellow travelers in both major parties want to establish to
support this larger population will all add to the severity of climate change and make Australia
less able to support even its present population.”
Dr Coulter claims that Beattie, Rudd, Howard and the political parties they represent are caught in
a time-warp.
“Their push for ever more population and economic growth is a recipe from the 1960s. It ignores
the reality that humanity and its economy depends on the natural environment. And the
environment is telling us, loudly and clearly that this continual growth is no longer sustainable.
“Fifty million in Australia is not achievable. But the attempt to bring it about will progressively
destroy any possibility of making Australia environmentally sustainable. Far from being leaders
these people and their parties are strongly inhibiting the transition to a new and sustainable
relationship with our supporting natural environment.
“Science is warning that we have little time left to respond. Beattie has shut his ears to the
message,” Dr Coulter concluded.
Further information: John Coulter 08 83882153