Migration the key to state growth, population plan says

Tasmania has the oldest population in the nation. The state government has revealed its plan to reverse that. Here’s how.

The Tasmanian government says it will be looking to young migrants to help the state’s ageing population. Picture: iStock

Tasmania will increasingly turn to international migrants to grow the state’s population, improve the workforce skill mix and reverse the long term trend of an ageing population.

The state government released Tasmania’s Population Policy on Wednesday.

It notes that the first Tasmanian Population Growth Strategy set a target of increasing the state’s population by 570,000 persons by 2030 which was achieved eight years early.

The next target is 650,000 by 2050.

The state Treasury medium growth population projections show that target not being met.

Tasmania’s annual rate of population growth peaked in 2018-19 at 2.1 per cent but has since decreased to 0.41 per cent in the December 2023 quarter — the lowest result since 1988.

Labor has pointed out that 15,805 people left the state in the quarter, outpacing new arrivals by 3200.

The new population policy points to increased migration from overseas as one way of reducing the state’s median age, which is up from 26 in 1971 to 42 in 2021.

“Balanced population growth will see an increase in the proportion of younger families and working-aged residents, largely made up of international migration,” the strategy says.

“Skilled migration, matched to the needs of the workforce, brings many benefits to our communities and the economy.

“This is also likely to support the rate of natural increase and will help to offset Tasmania’s structural ageing, an issue experienced worldwide.”

Premier Jeremy Rockliff. Parliament Question Time. Picture: Chris Kidd

In his State of the State address to the Committee for the Economic Development of Australian on Wednesday, Premier Jeremy Rockliff said attracting more people to the state was essential to continued prosperity.

“We have the oldest median age in the nation. That has a significant impact on demand for services. And a significant impact on our productivity.

“There is no doubt we must strengthen our focus on increasing the retention and attraction of younger residents.

“And we must do so while still supporting the wellbeing of all Tasmanians across all ages and stages of life.

“Young Australians already think we are the entrepreneurial state, where people with good ideas can build something special. We must keep making that true.

“We need to provide an environment in which our young people know that if they finish school or gain a trade qualification if they work hard and if they follow their natural talents and their passions, they can change Tasmania.

“Indeed, they can change the world from here in Tasmania.”