Minster for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Tony Burke, released on Thursday an issues paper on the Government’s sustainable population strategy and invited feedback from the community.

The issues paper brought together the major issues identified in reports by the three independent Sustainable Population Strategy Advisory Panels, which focused on demographic change, liveability, productivity, prosperity and sustainable development.

Mr Burke said public comment on the issues paper was just part of the broader community consultation that would take place before the release of Australia’s first Sustainable Population Strategy next year.

“Population change presents important challenges and opportunities across portfolios and all levels of government – at the national, state and local levels,” he said.

“But it is a debate that involves all Australians.

“We all have a responsibility to consider the impacts of a changing population on Australia for today and into the future.”

Mr Burke said the “ultimate goal” of the new policy would be “to improve the wellbeing of current and future generations through more effective recognition and management of the impacts of population changes”.

Details of the public consultation process are available at www.environment.gov.au.