Under Population-Australia

Question 1

Population of Australia

Answer 1

20 million

Question 2

Reasons for underpopulation

Answer 2

1) 45% is desert
2) erratic rainfall not enough water
3) most of the population lives near coasts

Question 3

Workforce of Australia

Answer 3

11.6 million

Question 4

Population density

Answer 4

2.6/km2

Question 5

Problems with underpopulation

Answer 5

1) shortage of workers- only 11.6 million workforce
2) workforce will go into decline by 2020
3) natural resources are wasted due to lack of workers to extract (gold, iron ore, copper, coal, uranium)
4) threat to national security
5) High imports and low exports balance trade is 3000

Question 6

Solutions

Answer 6

1) encourage migration by lowering visa requirements
2) enforce pro-natalist policy
3) increase taxes
4) prolonge the retirement age
6) expand economy through foreign investment

Question 7

Why should Australia expand its population

Answer 7

1) population density is only 2.6/km2 therefore this would allow Australia to put more land into use
2) Young immigrants could help the ageing population
3) could provide workers for solar, tidal, and wind powers,
4) could attract foreign investment
5) balance trade is -3000
6) resources like uranium, gold, iron ore, copper not extracted due to lack of workforce
7) threat to national security
8) workforce will go into decline by 2020

Question 8

Why should Australia not expend its population?

Answer 8

1) could increase population too much and Australia already generates 2 times of Germany’s pollution
2) immigrants would age eventually
3) High population doesn’t equal a prosperous population
4) large population is not necessary to boost its own companies
5) exhaust the soil/ 45% is already a desert
6) unemployment is already 5.8%