Overnight With Michael Mclaren

Many well-known and respected names such as Dick Smith AO, economist Leith van Onselen and Emeritus Professor Ian Lowe, have joined over twelve thousand Australians to sign a position statement calling for the stabilisation of Australia's population. Sustainable Population Australia (SPA) National President, Peter Strachan, tells Clinton Maynard the Position Statement went public in the last few months and is attracting huge interest. It is on-going and is now the prime tool people can use to show how they feel about excessive population growth. Mr Strachan says, “Australians see no benefit to their quality of life following Australia’s 8.2 million or 43% population growth since the year 2000.” “Recent data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics reveals that Australia’s population is expanding by an eye-watering 13,148 per week, with only 2,413 arising from births minus deaths. At this pace of growth 4,200 additional dwellings are required each week, but the number completed is about 1000 less than needed.”