Rudd to Speak at National Population Conference

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UDIA National Conference

Australia's former Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, will be a keynote speaker at the National Conference of the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA).

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Tony De Domenico
 Executive Director UDIA (VIC)

Tony De Domenico, Executive Director, UDIA (VIC) said, "The Conference titled, 'Population Vision for a Nation' to be held in Melbourne in the first week of March, will provide a major platform to explore the potential policies being put forward by major parties as Australia heads to one of its most important elections of modern times."

"Australia is facing a battle on three fronts to provide for the forecast expansion of its population by 2050 to 35.9 million*. There is a massive backlog of infrastructure which is leaving capital cities in gridlock. The cost of the great Australian dream has moved beyond an increasing number of people".

"With the development industry in Australia representing in excess of 12% of the country's economic development and recognised as a major key to economic recovery as the mining industry slows, this National Conference is timely for a debate on the issue of Australia's rapidly growing population."

Other speakers at the Conference include the Federal Minister for Housing, the Hon. Brendan O'Connor; Matthew Guy, Victorian Planning Minister; Ian Walker, Queensland Planning Reform Minister and Daniel Grollo, CEO of Grocon.

Mr De Domenico said "The Conference will take into account views of Government, Industry and the Community to open up a national Public Conversation on the pressing issues of population growth which impacts on every Australian".

"We see the National Conference as being an important and critical event to review the current and proposed future policies on housing affordability, the development of robust and sustainable planning policies, the development of sustainable employment and skills retention and the provision of funding for urgently needed infrastructure as key issues."

Source: * Treasury modelling contained in the third Intergenerational Report forecast a population of 35.9 million by 2050.

Media Enquiries: Ron Smith, Corporate Media Communications, UDIA (VIC) Mobile: 0417 329 201