“The scale of Australia’s unprecedented post-pandemic migration intake has been so massive that even in far-flung parts of regional Queensland, population growth from migration has been twice the level of natural increase,” said Dr Kevin You, Senior Fellow at the Institute of Public Affairs.
IPA analysis of net migration flows in the first three full financial years under the Albanese government (between 2022 and 2025) reveals:
- Approximately half of regional Queensland’s population growth (48 per cent) has been attributable to net overseas migration.
- Natural increase (i.e., births minus deaths) has been responsible for only one-fifth of the region’s population growth.
- Net domestic (internal) migration from other parts of Australia has been responsible for close to a third of population growth in regional Queensland.
“While state and federal governments are scrambling to spend money on infrastructure assets in Australia’s capital cities to keep up with migration-driven demand, the regions are in danger of falling behind,” said Dr You.
“Not only are the regions accommodating large numbers of overseas migrants, but also high number of internal migrants from Sydney and Melbourne,” said Dr You.
Table: Components of population growth for the financial years ending 2023 to 2025
Recent IPA analysis has found that Australia is not running a genuinely skills-based migration program. In fact, even among migrants who are granted a permanent ‘skills’ visa, less than half satisfied Home Affairs’ skilled visa requirements. The majority are family members and other dependants.
“Overseas migration has been responsible for half of the population growth in regional Queensland, but the data show that the majority are unlikely to be bringing critical skills in key industries which are vital to the regions,” said Dr You.
“Migration has been an important part of Australia’s national story. But immigration needs to be properly planned, have the consent of the community, and be. Importantly, migration into the regions – from overseas and domestic migrants – need to be accompanied by investment in housing and infrastructure.”
