Liberal senator Dean Smith is urging Malcolm Turnbull to deliver on population policy.

Smith says a more restrained and curtailed approach to immigration levels needs to be considered, if the nation’s current standard of living is to be protected.

“I want to know why it is that Australia’s annual population growth is growing at 1.6%,” says Smith.

“That is much higher than in Asia, which is growing at 0.9%. It’s much higher than North America, which is growing at 0.7%. Why is it that we are growing 20 times higher than Europe?”

“People are getting a little bit anxious about immigration and more importantly, population numbers. They want standards of living to be maintained and increased for their children and grandchildren.”

Though also calling for better decentralisation to ease the pressure on Sydney and Melbourne, Smith’s primary message is that Australia needs to tackle the population debate head on.

“I’m a big believer that the country can handle big debates and big discussions. When the evidence is put in front of people, we can come to very calm and rational conclusions.”

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