POPULATION TARGETS

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE (14:54): I have a supplementary question. Given that the Leader of Government Business has advised the house that there will be a lower population growth than predicted in the 30-year plan period, will he agree to a moratorium with the community on stages 1, 2 and 3, or at least of stages 2 and 3, of the Seaford Heights development, given that there will not be the urgency for its completion?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister Assisting the Premier in Public Sector Management) (14:54): I have not agreed that there will necessarily be a lower population growth over 30 years. What I have said we do get, from year to year, is some fluctuation in population growth. In the previous 12 months, there may well have been some reduction in the population growth, which could be due to commonwealth policies on immigration and so on.

They may well be temporary measures. We could find that, next year or the year after, if the world economy recovers or conditions change, our population growth does resume. I am certainly not conceding that in 30 years' time we will necessarily have a lesser number of people than in the population target. In any case, doesn't it make sense that we should plan 30 years ahead? As I said, if our population growth is a bit lower, and it takes 35 or 40 years, isn't it still a sensible thing to plan in advance for where that population growth should be located? Finally, in relation to the latter stages, I think I have addressed the issue of Seaford Heights and the staging adequately enough in previous questions.