WHEN Kevin Rudd welcomed the idea of ”a big Australia” by openly praising forecasts the country’s population would boom from 22 million to 35 million by 2050, William Bourke decided it was time to act.

 

The Sydney small businessman believes the Prime Minister’s remarks were so out of keeping with the feelings of most voters, he decided to form a political party.

 

Although he has never been involved in politics, Mr Bourke, 39, said his instincts told him Mr Rudd had slipped up badly last year when he said:” ”I actually believe in a big Australia – I make no apology for that. I actually think it’s good news that our population is growing.”

 

Mr Bourke says the huge increases in population forecast by the federal Treasury in its third intergenerational report are a direct result of government policies, including record immigration levels and the baby bonus. Yet the only public debate is on how to deal with the consequences of so many more people, not whether such growth is desirable.