Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

  (i) in a recent survey of voters, conducted by the Australian Population Research Institute, it was found that 74 per cent of respondents believed Australia does not need to increase its population, and

  (ii) a Galaxy research poll, conducted by Mr Dick Smith in September 2017, indicated that 83 per cent of respondents believed major parties should have a population policy, and 82 per cent agreed population growth was an issue on which politicians needed to act; and

(b) calls upon the Government to commit to a plebiscite, held in conjunction with the next federal election, asking voters to indicate their preferred stance on Australia adopting a more sustainable population target.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Labor will not be supporting this motion. The government's marriage equality postal survey was a waste of time and money. We don't need another one based on a thought bubble from Senator Hanson. Is the senator suggesting we need to cap population or have a policy on how many kids families can have? Labor sees this for what it is: another swipe from Senator Hanson at migrants. Labor are proud that Australia is a nation built on immigration, and we have welcomed 7.5 million immigrants since World War II, who have helped build Australia into the strong, vibrant and multicultural society it is today.

Question negatived.