The latest ABS quarterly population data shows that another 5,472 Tasmanians have left for the mainland in search of better opportunities.
Under the Rockliff Minority Government Tasmania continues to have the worst annual growth in the country at 0.3 per cent, which is well below the national growth rate of 1.8 per cent.
Interstate migration has been the main driver of Premier Rockliff’s population crisis, and this quarter marked ten in a row that Tasmania experienced an outflow to the mainland.
And for just the second time since the data has been collected, Tasmania has seen a decline in natural population growth with more deaths than births.
Our measly 0.3 per cent annual population growth is only being propped up by overseas migration and if that was taken out of the equation, Tasmania’s population would be going backwards.
Planeloads of working-aged Tasmanians are leaving every few days, and it’s impossible to say how many more will move away for a better future if Premier Rockliff’s privatisation plans get off the ground.
Privatisation has been a disaster everywhere else; services have suffered, and prices have skyrocketed.
To reverse the population crisis, Tasmanians need a government with a vision for the future, not a desperate plan to sell-off our public assets to pay for their own budget mismanagement.
Key facts – Premier Rockliff’s population crisis – ABS national, state and territory population data:
- 5,472 Tasmanians left for the mainland in search of better opportunities over the quarter
- 10th consecutive negative quarter
- Tasmania’s population growth worst in nation at 0.3 per cent
- More than twice as slow as next worst jurisdiction (NT, 0.7 per cent)
- Six times slower than national growth rate of (1.8 per cent)
More deaths than births in Tasmania for only second time since data has been collected (1981).
Josh Willie MP
Shadow Treasurer
