By 2050, the Australian population is expected to grow from 22 million to 36 million. That increase alone will put huge pressure on our towns and our cities. We will need more homes, more roads, more rail lines, more hospitals, more schools, just to accommodate so many Australians. – Kevin Rudd
Australia is a nation of compassion. Courage and compassion. And the third of these great values: resilience. – Kevin Rudd
These are important reforms. Infrastructure, education, health, hospitals, closing the gap with indigenous Australians. Also the Apology to the first Australians. As Prime Minister of the country I am proud of each and every one of these achievements. – Kevin Rudd
But Australia faces additional regional and global challenges also crucial to our nations future – climate change, questions of energy and food security, the rise of China and the rise of India. And we need a strong system of global and regional relationships and institutions to underpin stability. – Kevin Rudd