New data shows interstate city slickers flood Queensland regions

Health chiefs fear already struggling regional health services will collapse under the weight of interstate millennials flooding out of Australian cities into Queensland regions.

Jackie Sinnerton

@JSinnerton

3 min read

May 31, 2024 - 12:00AM

Queensland Labor backs Opposition’s plan to cut migration

QLD Politics

Don't miss out on the headlines from QLD Politics. Followed categories will be added to My News.

Health chiefs fear already struggling regional health services will collapse under the weight of interstate millennials flooding out of Australian cities into Queensland regions, with new data showing the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast are the top two hotspots for migrants.

Critical surgical waiting lists, doctor shortages, overwhelmed emergency departments, obstetric uncertainty are all concerns for the state’s peak medical body as the population explodes.

Cost of living, house prices and traffic chaos are pushing more city slickers into regional areas with the latest Regional Movers Index showing metro to regional relocations have surged in the first quarter of the year — now sitting at 20 per cent.

Data released Friday shows that in the March quarter migration across the nation soared in the first three months of the year, with the regions recording their fifth biggest influx of metro residents in the last six years.

But the Australian Medical Association Queensland is concerned that regional Queensland’s healthcare system is already under severe pressure and is at risk of buckling.

“It’s no surprise that people want to leave capital cities for Queensland’s coast. I made the move from Brisbane to Hervey Bay a decade ago and have never looked back. But our members in regional Queensland are justifiably concerned that their patients are already waiting too long for elective surgery and outpatient appointments,” new president Nick Yim told The Courier-Mail.

“AMAQ has convened a surgical wait list roundtable, similar to our ramping roundtable in 2021, to come up with an action plan to recruit, train and retain more specialists and other healthcare workers in regional Queensland,” Dr Yim said.

The doctors’ association reports that the Gold Coast had more than 8000 people waiting for elective surgery in the first three months of this year.

New AMAQ president Dr Nick Yim. Picture: Josh Woning

The Sunshine Coast has more than 5000 on waiting lists, and in Central Queensland less than 84 per cent of Category 1 patients were treated within the clinically recommended times — the most urgent patients.

Gold Coast University Hospital maternity services were downgraded on four occasions in January and February with complex births sent to other hospitals. Complex births include delivery of premature babies or if mother and baby needs specialised medical care.

Queensland Health reports that this did not impact any mothers or babies.

The Regional Movers Index is produced in partnership between Commonwealth Bank of Australia and the Regional Australia Institute.

Commonwealth Bank Regional and Agribusiness executive general manager, Paul Fowler, said in all seven capital cities analysed, millennials (born from 1981-95) were the demographic on the move the most, with the Gold Coast emerging as a firm favourite across the nation.

“This quarter’s report paints the picture of younger individuals or younger families looking for somewhere that’s more affordable,” Mr Fowler said.

“Many are opting for the large regional centres which are buzzing with business activity and investment, offering a great range of employment opportunities.”

A Queensland Health spokesman said the department was investing in maternity services more than ever before and was continuing to plan for future healthcare needs.

“We are investing more into maternity services than ever before despite a drop in births and a decline in birthrates,” the spokesman said.

“Since June 2021, we have employed more than 7776 additional frontline health workers.

“As at May 30, we have employed 804 doctors and 2088 nurses and midwives in 2024 alone.

“We’re investing $42 million to bring maternity services closer to home, $22 million for nursing and midwifery student placements, an additional $30 million will support up to 770 more graduate nurses and midwives a year, bringing the annual intake to approximately 2500, and $4.4 million for skill maintenance and upskilling opportunities for regional and rural maternity staff.”