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Hi,
will there be any new story's or news about Allen's rise, pictures opal 
ridge, miners and such? About the great Opal Stone! that Keeps Coober Pedy on 
the Map!!!! I just miss the news......
Kindest Regards 

Kevin Jones

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Build better cities and attract skilled workers: The Population Conference debate begins .

Australia's economy is currently growing at a good pace. This is the good times. 

But it isn't going to last, says Jeremy Reynolds, Manager of Demographic Research at Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment.
Speaking about his upcoming address at the Australian Population Institute's (Apop's) 5th Population Conference being held in Darwin on
13-14 October 2005, Mr Reynolds says he can offer no solutions, only challenges.

"Cities have a real advantage in terms of the range of career options they offer," says Mr Reynolds. "Although shortages are evident across
Australia, smaller and remoter towns are at the forefront of the challenge in finding the range of skills they need.
"The challenge for more remote places like Darwin is to build better environments where people want to live. 
"Doctors, other professionals and tradespeople will come to Australia and 'go bush' - for them it's not just about money, but environment and
lifestyle. 

"Many people with skills are increasingly looking for places which offer career opportunities for their partners.

Mr Reynolds says that with our growing population, a fast expanding knowledge economy and increasing skills shortages, our ageing population
is adding to the skills shortage crisis as more baby boomers, skilled and experienced in their various occupations, are lost to retirement.
"Australia will have to rely more on overseas migration if it is to sustain population growth rates," says Mr Reynolds. 
Mr Reynolds suggests that natural increase - births minus deaths - is declining as the baby boomer bulge ages and eventually dies. On present
trends, natural increase, currently 120,000 plus per year, will reach zero by the mid 2030s.

"In most post war years Australia's population was gaining 1% through overseas migration. Now the figure is closer to 0.6%," says Mr Reynolds.
"Over recent years there has been a change in the mix of migration. The latest ABS figures show almost half settler arrivals are skilled
migrants compared with a mere 20% ten years ago."
Jane Nathan, President of Apop says there is a greater sentiment towards higher immigration in Australia, especially those with specific skills.
"But we also need to increase our fertility rates to replacement levels within 10 years, and increase our retirement age from 65 to 72 by 2050,"
says Ms Nathan.
"This is a huge task. But if we fail, we will have a nation of haves and have nots.
"The 'haves' will be working. Employment opportunities will be plentiful, wages will be higher and taxes reasonable. If taxes are
raised to an unacceptable level it would cause an increase in emigration and a decrease in immigration, which would again exacerbate our
problems. So the 'haves' will have it all. 
"The 'have nots' will not be working and will be on a fixed income or pension. Their standard of living will decline as Government assistance
will be limited and the cost of having anything done involving labour, from replacing a tap washer to mowing lawns, will be very expensive."
"That is what the Population Conference in Darwin is about, debating issues facing us right now." 
"Skills shortages have already begun. We must compete for skilled migrants now."

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