Australia is at a crucial juncture. The pandemic resulted in two years of very slight population growth (due to births). Not since 1916 during WWI has anything like this occurred. Australians now have the rarest of opportunities to assess the value of a stable population. Politicians can no longer claim population growth is ‘inevitable’ and ‘unstoppable’, as Scott Morrison did before COVID.

For two decades federal governments have surreptitiously pursued high population growth targets in collusion with business interests. Before the election, PM Anthony Albanese repeatedly signalled that Labor wouldn’t back the return of mass immigration. Now the Labor government wants to aim for an unprecedented immigration level of 300,000+ per year for four years. About 70,000 people leave Australia each year. We could take in the same number to stabilize population and increase our current refugee intake. Births would still keep Australia’s population rising gradually.

They are clearly choosing a policy that most Australians oppose. Here are some reasons why this policy harms most ordinary people inside and outside Australia, as well as our environment. But we do not need to agree on the reasons why - it’s time parliament listened to the majority. Please sign and share the petition saying, “Before covid, Australia’s population was growing fast. After covid, we think it should return to a much slower pace.”

For more detailed information click here.

Signatures will be emailed to the Prime Minister and the Minister for Home Affairs. A press release may also be issued. The petition may be presented to the Senate.