NT population gets a boost as more than 4000 interstaters relocate to the Territory in past two months

MORE than 4000 people have moved to the Northern Territory from interstate in the past two months, but industry experts are warning this COVID-19 fuelled population surge will be short-lived.

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MORE than 4000 people have moved to the Northern Territory from interstate in the past two months but industry experts are warning this COVID-19 fuelled population surge will be short-lived.

The NT News has obtained the latest data compiled from border entry forms, which all arrivals in the Territory must fill in before entry.

It shows more than 4000 people have moved to the Territory since August 23, including 2814 people who reported they are permanently relocating and 1365 people who are moving here short-term because of coronavirus.

The data gives merit to claims Chief Minister Michael Gunner has made that residents in pandemic-ravaged southern states have been “absolutely” fleeing to the NT.

Troy Foster, 5, Matt Foster, Susan Bennett, Hayley Foster and (sleeping) Alex Foster, 3 have recently relocated to the NT from WA. Picture: Che Chorley

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It comes after the NT population recently recorded its first quarterly increase in two years – rising slightly from 244,761 last December to 245,353 in March – according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ latest estimates.

The influx of new residents this year has also seen demand for rental homes in Darwin spike, with the vacancy rate sitting at just 2 per cent.

However, NT Property Council executive director Ruth Palmer warns the current COVID-19 population increase may be temporary.

“What we require is long-term population growth through major policy reforms and major projects that will generate long-term jobs that will translate to long-term population growth,” she said.

“Sugar hits and a false growth perception is not the answer.

“It is quite a simple equation we need to work off.

“Jobs bring people. Real growth can only be achieved through four main avenues.

“If we want to see long-term population growth, there needs to be a serious overhaul of the Regional Migration visa requirements.”

It comes after the NT government recently dropped its failed Welcome to the Territory cash incentive that offered families up to $15,000 to settle in the NT. TheNT News ­revealed last year that only 124 people had accessed the incentives since 2018.

MORE than 4000 people have moved to the Northern Territory from interstate in the past two months, leading to a dramatic shift in Darwin’s rental market. Picture: Che Chorley

Australia National University demographer Liz Allen said the scheme was too narrow to redress population decline effectively.

The Chief Minister responded to questions about these concerns saying: “We’ll consider new incentives down the track if we need to, but right now the rest of Australia knows that the Territory is the place to be.”

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The NT government’s coronavirus numbers tracker on Sunday showed there had been about 144,000 arrivals by air, road, sea and rail since July 17.