Australians will have to work harder for longer to cope with a population squeeze, the world-renowned Australian former UK Chief Scientist, Professor Lord Bob May, said today.
Professor May is to speak at the Australian Academy of Science’s annual Symposium, Australia 2050: population challenges to sustainability, at the Shine Dome in Canberra today.
“Our population is growing, and it is also growing older. Keeping a fixed retirement age and increasing migration to maintain pensions is not going to work,” he said.
“We need to dispense with the current approach and recognise that we are healthier for longer and therefore able to work for longer. Currently working people spend around one-third of their adult lives in retirement. This has to change.”
Restrictions on capital inheritance should be eased and welfare broadened to account for a higher population density, Professor May said.
The United Nations this week estimated that the world population will hit 9.3 billion by 2050, and Australia’s population is expected to hit around 40 million – almost double the 23 million ‘safe’ level agreed by a 1994 Academy of Science Symposium, Population 2040: Australia’s Choice.
Australian of the Year Simon McKeon, also speaking at today’s Symposium, said any population expansion should be approached slowly and with caution.
“Infrastructure must be planned for so that we can cope in terms of essential services,’ said Mr McKeon.
“We must ensure we don’t trash the environment, and we must ensure we have all the basic necessities like water and power.”
Dr Tony Fischer, honorary research fellow at CSIRO Plant Industry, said that it would be possible to increase agricultural output, but at the price of widening the gap between urban and rural Australia.
“The cost of agricultural labour continues to rise, and, while new techniques and innovations will mean that production of food staples will most likely be fine, we may see threats to the stability of the horticulture industry,” he said.
Others speaking at the Symposium include Professor Tim Flannery, Vanessa Rauland, The Hon Dr Barry Jones, Professor Robyn Norton and New Zealand Chief Scientist Professor Peter Gluckman.
To see a live webcast of the event, or for the full program including abstracts and speakers’ biographies, go to www.science.org.au/science-shine-dome
Note to media: Media are welcome to attend the Symposium, at the Shine Dome in Canberra.
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