Australia to Create Post of ‘Population Minister’

Australia’s government has announced that the post of Minister for Population will be created to address the country’s population worries.

Recent estimates suggest that Australia’s population could grow by more than 50% in the coming decades.  Most of this growth is expected to result from increased immigration.  This has prompted concerns about the country’s ability to handle such a large population when the current population of 22 million is already taxing the continent’s environment.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said that the objective of creating the new post was to ‘determine the challenges and opportunities population growth would bring, examine its likely trajectory, minimize the risks, and consider what infrastructure would be needed.’  Mr. Rudd continued, “The strategy will also seek to address the challenges associated with population growth, including the impact on the environment, water, and urban congestion.”

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