Many media outlets are getting their panties in a bunch over today’s ABS population numbers.
And it’s true there’s one set of projections which have the population up to nearly a million by 2061.
There’s another series that gets us to a more sedate 612,000.
It’s worth bearing in mind that Washington DC has a population of 600,000 servicing a nation of 317,000,000. (Yes, it’s true that the greater Washington area is over 5 million but you could see the wider Canberra Region growing as well).
So the population might grow like topsy, or more moderately, and no-one really knows what the next 50 years will bring.
I guarantee you there will be some boom times, some bust times, a major war, and a major realignment of our political paradigm over that time though.
The most interesting part of this was that it has the ACT’s population overtaking Tasmania’s (and Perth overtaking Brisbane).
With Sydney becoming ever more congested and, overall, expensive, the already expensive, but less congested Canberra Region may become more attractive – but only if there are policies which are attractive to viable, genuine businesses.
I would add to your predictions a re-think/re-jig of the Federation, which might also have implications for Canberra’s local governance arrangements.
tommo said :
Like the American Civil War, the future war for the Territory will be North versus South because our differences seem irreconcilable. The disadvantaged citizens of ol’ Dixie will secede because they haven’t been afforded the modern technology that is the tram trolley to the tourist traps of Gungahlin.
Oops. Oh Canada.
I’m in favour of us retaining QE2 as Queen, for all eternity. That way we will shortly have our own unique head of state, and the monarchists still get their constitutional monarchy.
Think of all the money that will be saved by never having to change all the references.
I do have a problem with the current situation where OUR monarch honours English cricketers for crimes against Australia.
Aeek said :
From Wikipedia:
Canada is a federal parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy, with Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state.
Ko. said :
As a Finn, I can tell you that they had a civil war!
BimboGeek said :
Well done.
Pork Hunt said :
Finland
Holden Caulfield said :
Plastic bags… its already started.
Canada
Pork Hunt said :
I don’t need your civil war
It feeds the rich while it buries the poor.
Pork Hunt said :
Malta.
Holden Caulfield said :
If we are to become a republic then it will be a civil war.
I challenge the reader to come up with a country which has transitioned from a monarchy to a republic without a civil war.
Holden Caulfield said :
Ourselves
Who are we going to war with?