And perhaps rightly so.  Sustainable Population Australia (SPA) asked whether the day, 11 July WAS in truth, a day to celebrate.   Amongst its aims this group is promoting urban and rural lifestyles and practices that are in harmony with the realities of the Australian environment, its resource base and its biodiversity.  Very Us, huh?

This year’s World Population Day highlighted the importance of data for development focussing on population and housing.

Approximately 77 million people are added to the earth's population each year.   That’s nearly 220,000 people added to the planet every day.  Put into perspective that’s roughly about the same number of people in the Noosa and Maroochy area added every day.   Most of Australia’s population growth is due to immigration, about  500,000 a year (less than 3% of whom are refugees)  and while Australia has an immigration policy it doesn’t have a population policy. 

Our government says how many we will take in but not what this country has the capacity to provide in terms of work, health care, housing, natural resources – all the things needed to ensure the well-being of all residents new and old, young and aged.

At least we are talking about it, many countries are not.  In fact many countries already have far too many people for the resources they have to feed, clothe and house them.  Naturally some of them  would like to be here.

The Commonwealth Government’s Productivity Commission is currently undertaking a ‘benchmarking study of the development ‘( housing et al) process, closed 16 July (also came and went without fanfare...).  Efficiency gains in the development process should result in affordable housing for all in this country.