Coming or going? Migration into Greater Darwin turns positive for first time since 2015
MIGRATION into Greater Darwin has outweighed the number of people fleeing elsewhere for the first time in nearly six years.
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MIGRATION into Greater Darwin has exceeded the number of people fleeing elsewhere for the first time in nearly six years, a shift labelled “quite remarkable” by a demographer.
New regional migration data released on Tuesday by the Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed Greater Darwin had a net gain of 8 people in the September quarter, which may seem paltry until viewed against the backdrop of a net loss of hundreds of people each quarter since June 2015.
Territory-wide, the data revealed the net interstate migration loss of 130 people in the September 2020 quarter was the lowest it had been since June 2013.
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The Demographics Group research director Simon Kuestenmacher said the turnaround was “quite remarkable” and would help stabilise the city.
“It’s a reversal of out migration that seemed unstoppable a couple of years ago,” he said.
“It’s like when you are a debt-ridden person and for the first time in a long time you see your accounts are back in the black.”
Despite the improvement in Greater Darwin, the data does not back up the anecdotal evidence of “COVID-19 refugees” rushing to the NT.
Charles Darwin University Northern Institute demographer Dr George Tan said it instead shows more people are choosing to stay.
According to the ABS, the number of people leaving the NT in the September 2020 quarter was the lowest recorded since June 1985 and the number of people
“The underlying thing is… we are not seeing the numbers that we used to see leave the Territory,” Dr Tan said.
“There is a lot of focus on trying to get people here… (it should be about) how can we harness some of the changing sentiment with people staying.”
In net terms, the Northern Territory gained the most people from Victoria (+230) and lost the most to Queensland (-350).
First year doctor Annie Langston-Cox is one of those Victorians, opting to leave Melbourne for Darwin in January.
Her choice was influenced by her parents, who as young doctors spent a year in the NT and have raved about the lifestyle, and friends who recently moved to Darwin and gloating about the scenery.
“After a year in lockdown, being restricted to a 5km radius it was a bit grim,” Dr Langston-Cox said.
“(Moving to Darwin) meant a bit more freedom.”
Property Council northern territory executive director Ruth Palmer said it appears the Territory’s economy has gone from “reverse to neutral”.
Chief Minister Michael Gunner said the migration numbers were the best the Territory has seen in years and it shows that “we are Australia’s comeback capital”.
“There’s still a long way to go in our recovery, but the signs are really good.”
THE SITUATION AROUND AUSTRALIA
Nationally, capital cities had a net loss of more than 11,000 people from internal migration in the three months to the end of September, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
It is the largest quarterly net loss on record, the regional internal migration estimates show.
Brisbane gained the most people through net internal migration (3,200) while Sydney lost the most (7,800).
In net terms, Victoria did not gain people from any state or territory and lost most to Queensland.
Overall, the state of Queensland gained the most people from interstate while NSW lost the most during the September quarter.
Australian National University demographer Dr Liz Allen said many people have realised during COVID-19 that more of their lives can be done online, opening up opportunities to live beyond city limits while maintaining their way of life.
“COVID-19 has had a significant impact on the lives of Australians, especially impacting people in major cities where nearly all major community transmission outbreaks have occurred,” Dr Allen said.
“Sydney and Melbourne have experienced the greatest of all capital cities in Australia in terms of lockdown and necessary behavioural change, so it’s not at all surprising that people have been moving out and away from these restrictions and into other areas.”
Meanwhile, she said Queensland has been an attractive place to move from elsewhere within Australia, even before COVID, with its lifestyle and job opportunities appealing to those seeking a change.
However, she expects the current trend away from capital cities will be short lived as people realise infrastructure in regional areas is “woefully inadequate.”
“The trend we’re seeing at present is the result of others not moving into the areas where people have left, which would ordinarily happen,” she said.
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“The sad reality is that postcode determines many socio-economic outcomes for Australians, for example, how long we live.
“The moment people realise that the infrastructure is woefully inadequate in regional areas is the moment the country could experience secondary impacts of COVID, whereby employment, housing and education won’t be able to meet the needs of residents.
“We’ll have a crisis on our hands, lasting far longer than the COVID impacts themselves.
“In the absence of any real investments in regional areas, the moment COVID community-acquired infections settle we’ll likely have a resumption of pre-COVID internal migration patterns.”
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