Population: evidence-based discussion needed

A ‘wellness rebate’, strengthening rail networks and speeding up the uptake of renewable energies are among the views put forward by a group of Australia’s top young scientists for the future of Australia’s population, in a publication launched in Adelaide today.

Recommendations from Australia’s population: shaping a vision for our future, launched today by South Australian Minister for Science and Information Economy, Tom Kenyon, synthesises the bright ideas of more than 60 top young researchers from across a broad range of disciplines during a two day Think Tank held in July by the Australian Academy of Science.

“Population is a critical issue for Australia and the Think Tank identified the need for a national grass roots discussion to inform future government policy, including on productivity, diversity in education, health and wellbeing, urban planning and use of resources” said Dr Kristin Alford, Co-Chair of the Think Tank.

Proposed topics for national discussion include:

• addressing gender inequity in paid work and family care
• creating transition pathways to retirement
• increasing migration intake
• emphasising learning of languages other than English
• introducing a ‘health and wellness rebate’ to help with the prevention of disease
• reassessing priorities for end of life care
• leveraging high-density urban environments for transport and health benefits
• strengthening the railway networks
• making mining royalties more uniform across states
• speeding uptake of renewable energies

“This key recommendation is already being addressed at the Australian Population Association (APA) conference, which is hosting a discussion on the full range of demographic issues facing Australia’s population,” Dr Alford said.

Professor Graeme Hugo, member of the Think Tank steering committee will speak about a national conversation on population at the APA conference in Melbourne tomorrow.