Premier of South Australia, Mike Rann, told delegates at the Local Government Association of South Australia’s Annual Conference, staged in Adelaide on 7 and 8 October, that doing nothing about population is not an option for the State. The Premier told delegates that his Government has set a goal of increasing South Australia’s population to two million by 2050.
“Increasing our growth rate, keeping our young people in South Australia and protecting the environment are key priorities,” the Premier said. “We are the only Australian State with a population policy, and we call on all three spheres of government to work together to develop a national population policy by 2005.”
He congratulated the LGA on the conference program that delivered two days of productive debate about the issue of population.
South Australia’s growth rate is currently less than half the national average. It has the oldest population, and with a low birthrate it is predicted the State’s population will go into decline by 2027. The Premier said that in light of this, the Government has set ambitious targets essential for long term prosperity.
“Councils can play a vital role in attracting and retaining migrants,” he said. “Many are doing a great job in welcoming overseas migrants and making their communities migrant friendly.
“Our current advertising campaign, targeting people in Melbourne, Sydney and New Zealand, is based on promoting the competitiveness of our house prices. We are interested in the young professionals and young families who are finding themselves priced out of the Sydney and Melbourne marketplaces. Selling Adelaide as the 20 minute city with out the traffic snarls is an additional drawcard.”
The Government is also promoting Adelaide as a superior business destination with it recently being ranked third in the world in regard to its cost competitiveness.
“Growth and investment in South Australia is outstripping the rest of the nation,” Mike Rann said. He pointed to the new Adelaide International Airport, $300 million development at the Port of Adelaide, the doubling of Roxbury Downs, the budget in the black and that the State’s AAA rating by Standard and Poors has recently returned after a 14 year absence.
“We all have a duty to sell this to attract business investment and migration,” the Premier said. Dr Adam Graycar, Executive Director of the SA Office of Cabinet, said that worldwide some 175 million people live outside the country where they were born.
“There is likely to be even more movement, particularly with political challenges,” he said. “There is a global movement of people and we are very much part of it.”
He said that the State Government’s population policy is based on the following four pillars:
- fertility and family
- migration
- skills development
- recognition of older people.
“Local Government has a role in this demographic transition but there are differences across the State,” Adam Graycar said. “Twenty-two councils have their population in decline while others are experiencing growth. To assist councils, Regional Migration Officers have been placed in the Regional Development Boards to ensure all areas are aware of the opportunities to sponsor skilled migrants.”
He said that growth must be sustainable, areas must be technologically smart and family friendly.
Mayor Steve Perryman from the City of Mount Gambier said that with the skill shortages in regional South Australia, Councils need to be prepared to welcome skilled migrants.
“Particularly people from non Anglo Saxon backgrounds need to feel accepted and comfortable,” he said. He called for matching families to a community.
“As community leaders we have a key role in promoting cultural harmony and integrating cultural diversity through Harmony Day and a range of other community activities,” Councillor Perryman said.
