Population target 650,000 as Tasmania seeks to boost skilled migration and build business

A TASKFORCE must be set up to determine how to boost Tasmania’s population as the incoming government pursues an ambitious target of 650,000 people.

Rob and Helen Moore have recently moved to Hobart from Victoria, largely for lifestyle re

A TASKFORCE must be set up to determine how to grow Tasmania’s population as the incoming Hodgman government pursues an ambitious target of 650,000 people by 2050, business leaders, councils and demographers say.

The Liberals announced before the election they planned to grow the population by more than 135,000 and have announced $500,000 to help lure business and skilled migrants to the state.

But key questions remain as to what is the right population growth target, in what regions, how they can be attracted, how the state needs to be marketed, what infrastructure is in place to support such dramatic growth and what skills-set new residents need.

Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Michael Bailey said yesterday population growth was critical for economic and business growth in the state.

But Mr Bailey said there needed to be more detail and structure.

“We would be very supportive of a taskforce,” he said.

“We need to bring the community along for the ride.

“If we can articulate why it is important we have a much better chance of achieving the target.”

Tasmania's major population centres and figures based on 2011 census and ABS estimates.

Local Government Association of Tasmania chief executive officer Allan Garcia said if the Government wanted to grow the population it ­needed clear strategies and something, or someone, driving it.

“It can’t just be the Premier setting a target,” Mr Garcia said.

Local demographers Lisa Denny and Amina Keygan called for a clear policy framework to back up the target.

“It is not clear from the ­release of the incoming government’s policy how exactly they seek to achieve their targets – whether by continued natural increase, or net ­interstate/overseas migration,” Ms Keygan said.

Housing Industry Association executive director Stuart Clues said the Government’s target was too conservative.

“Tasmania needs two things ... people and jobs for those people,’’ Mr Clues said.

“We have a land mass the size of Ireland [a country] that comfortably supports 4.6 million people.

“I believe Tasmania should be aiming for one million ­people by 2050.”

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Mr Garcia, Property Council of Australia Tasmania execu­tive director Mary Massina and Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association chief executive officer Jan Davis said the Government’s target of 650,000 was about right.

Liberal deputy leader Jeremy Rockliff said there were no plans to bring in an advisory council similar to one that operated out of the Department of Premier and Cabinet.

“The Liberals are committed to growing Tasmania’s population,” Mr Rockliff said.

“The number one priority of the Liberals will be jobs.

“Our jobs plan will lay the foundation for sustainable population growth.”

He said the Liberal’s Big Tasmania policy laid out many of the key components to ­increasing the population.

“It addresses critical areas like health, education and public safety,’’ he said.

“A growing population is just one of the many beneficial outcomes from the long-term plan that we have already started implementing.”

Ms Denny said the Government needed to “seriously consider the make up of our population to firstly stabilise the structure and reverse the potential for decline with strategic intervention beyond just skilled migration”.

Ms Keygan said there were two key areas to population growth – natural increase and net migration.

“It is not clear ... how they seek to achieve their targets – whether by continued natural increase, or net interstate/overseas migration,” she said.

Rob and Helen Moore have recently moved to Hobart from Victoria, largely for lifestyle reasons.

WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO LIVE ANYWHERE ELSE?

AFTER an on-and-off romance with Tasmania over many years, Rob and Helen Moore have finally made it official by becoming permanent residents of Hobart.

Two weeks ago the couple, formerly of Central Victoria, moved in to their new home in Mt Nelson.

Mr Moore said lifestyle, house prices and Hobart’s beautiful natural setting were all factors in their decision.

The couple have lived in Hobart for short periods in the past, but this time will be staying for good.

“In Sydney this view would cost $5 million and it doesn’t exist in Melbourne,” Mr Moore said, “We’re 10 minutes from the city but we have half an acre of land.”

Mr and Mrs Moore are both employed in publishing and work from home.

They have clients in the UK, US and Canada, so where they live makes no difference, as long as they have a reliable internet connection..

Mrs Moore, who was born and raised in Hobart and moved interstate for university and work opportunities, said it was good to be back.

“I missed the river, the mountain and the clear blue sky, and it’s such a nice compact city.,” she said.

“There were so many things that we realised we couldn’t get anywhere else.”.