To the Honourable the Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives:

The petition of certain citizens of Australia draws to the attention of the House the need to decentralise parts of our population away from urban coastal sprawls to networks of interlinked medium density towns and cities with efficient power and transport systems. A vigorous decentralisation programme will help break down the notorious car-driven urban infrastructure in which we are trapped not only economically, hut physically and psychologically.

We ask that the House takes steps to ensure long and short term goals are set on how decentralising will happen and how we will live in the future.

A long-term goal is better designed locations than those now spread too wide and stressing essential services. The locations need all the right facilities, with much thought given to community development. This goal will break down the tyrannies of distance in all aspects of our lives.

A short-term goal to diversify the population is for Australia to have its own rules and regulations on entry and where refugees and migrants can initially settle. To this end Australia will succeed from the States Parties to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and 1967 Protocol, proud of its efforts. There are another 140 signatories to the refugee policy.

Another goal to help South Pacific people who are faced with major environmental and economic problems. The transition of islander people to Australia where necessary would be part of decentralisation.

from 11 citizens