Stable Population Party

The political party 'Stable Population Party of Australia' (SPPA) was formed in 2010, aiming to generate sufficient membership to endorse candidates for the 2010 Federal election.

SPPA Convenor William Bourke writes on their website: "After hearing Kevin Rudd declare his support for "a big Australia" and Tony Abbott declare his support for "as many people as possible", I decided it was time to act. Australia is desperately in need of democracy to stop the bi-partisan policies of extreme population growth that are causing or exacerbating most of our major economic, environmental and social problems."

SPPA claim their key policies include: * Adopt a formal national 'population policy' to stabilise Australia's population at around 23 million until 2050. * Adopt a balanced and sustainable migration program, with annual immigration at around *50-80,000, being equivalent to total annual emigration. * Maintain Australia's current refugee and humanitarian intake level, within the broader immigration quota. * Abolish the Baby Bonus and re-direct funds to genuinely needy families and children. * Tie foreign aid wherever possible to the improvement of governance and economic and environmental sustainability, with a particular focus on women's rights and on opportunities for couples to access family planning services.

Convenor William Bourke told The Australian newspaper that "massive cuts are needed to Australia's current immigration intake, including from the skilled migration program, family reunions, the high volume of New Zealanders allowed in, and overseas students." <ref Lunn, Stephen, 'Stable Population Party says massive cuts needed to Australia's immigration intake',, The Australian, April 20 2010.

Bourke said net overseas migration [the difference between those entering Australia and leaving Australia for more than a year], should be reduced to zero: "We need a balanced migration program, with immigration set at between 50,000 to 80,000 a year, matching the emigration that happens each year."