The National Population Summit convened in Melbourne on Monday 25 February 2002 recognises that:

1. POPULATION AS A MATTER OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE

Australia’s population, its size, composition and distribution is a vital factor determining Australia’s future as a nation, our place in the world and the well-being of our citizens, now and for generations to come.

2. A NATIONAL POPULATION POLICY

Australia can actively shape its future by developing, adopting and implementing a National Population Policy.

3. A BIPARTISAN POLICY

The development and evolution of Australia’s National Population Policy should be a bipartisan process coordinated by the Federal Government in partnership with all governments, Federal, State and Local, and political parties, engaging all Australians in an open, informed, reasoned and constructive debate about population.

4. AN INTEGRATED POLICY FRAMEWORK

Australia’s National Population Policy will necessarily involve recognition of a range of complex variables including our:

economy;
environment and natural resources;
infrastructure;
national security;
international relations;
urban and regional balance;
age distribution;
culture;
quality of life.

5. A DYNAMIC POLICY

Australia’s National Population Policy will be more than a series of prescribed annual population targets. Key issues to be addressed in the policy will be population dispersal and regional development. Australia’s National Population Policy will comprise a range of options within a dynamic strategic framework against which individual policy decisions can be effectively evaluated and integrated.

6. IMMIGRATION PRACTICE

Australia’s National Population Policy will distinguish between Population Policy and Immigration Practice and will recognise that Immigration Practice should not operate in isolation but within the broader context of achieving the overarching objectives of a National Population Policy.

7. RESEARCH AND EDUCATION

Australia’s National Population Policy should be based on informed debate, founded on ongoing commissioned research and analysis, underpinned by an appropriate National database using existing resources held by the Commonwealth, States, Universities and CSIRO and nurtured by widespread public education programmes.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Having regard to the above matters the Population Summit recommends:

- That political parties and peak industry and community bodies acknowledge the fundamental need to develop an informed National Population Policy.

- That political parties and peak industry and community bodies formally acknowledge the distinction between Population Policy and Immigration Practice and recognise that Immigration Practice should not operate in isolation but within the broader context of achieving the strategic objectives of Population Policy.

- That political parties and peak industry and community bodies actively contribute to informed and constructive debate on Australia’s population.

- That the Federal Government appoint a senior Minister responsible for matters relating to Australia’s Population Policy.

- That the Federal Government establish an intergovernmental Population Council in consultation with, and comprising representatives of, Federal, State and Local Governments and the community. It will be responsible for developing, communicating and co-ordinating matters relating to a National Population Policy.

- That the Population Council should be adequately funded to act as an independent peak body in relation to all matters concerning Australia’s National Population Policy.

- That the Population Council commission independent research to better enable informed long-term analysis of Australia’s various population options.

That the Population Council undertake public education programmes to encourage informed debate upon which a National Population Policy can be appropriately constructed, implemented and reviewed.

That the Population Council be responsible for overviewing and maintaining an appropriate national database of all matters relating to National Population Policy including existing resources held by Commonwealth and State Government, Universities, CSIRO and other research institutions.

That the Federal and State Governments convene further National Population Summits, the first to be held no less than 12 months from this date, for the purpose of reviewing and progressing the development of Australia’s National Population Policy.

That the Population Council prepare an Annual Report advising on progress in the implementation of the National Population Policy and identifying new or additional factors of research that need to be taken into account in further developing or implementing the policy.