Phil speaks with Peter Strachan, National President of Sustainable Population Australia, about the latest ABS population report, which shows a decline in Australia’s growth rate from 2.54% to 1.8%—still well above the OECD average.

Strachan highlights that net overseas migration fell to 379,800, down from 548,800 the previous year, but remains the main driver of population growth. He argues that rapid growth is worsening housing costs, increasing the cost of living, and straining essential services.

To stabilize Australia’s population below 30 million, Strachan calls for reducing net immigration to its long-term average of 70,000 per year. Despite a low fertility rate of 1.5, natural increase still exceeds 100,000 annually, with immigration accounting for 78.5% of total growth.

SPA is an independent, non-political advocacy group focused on protecting the environment and quality of life by promoting sustainable population policies.

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