Local Government Area population change for 2023/24 - Tasmania
The decisions that have been made (or not made) in the past, has led to this situation.
The decisions we make (or don’t make) and prioritise in relation to policy, infrastructure, services provision and investment have both direct and indirect short- and long-term impacts on demographic change and our economy and society.
Today, the ABS released its Regional Population data for 2023/24.
This publication estimates the resident population and components of population change (births, deaths and migration) for the regions – Capital Cities, Rest of State and Local Government Areas (LGAs) as well as SA2 and above statistical areas.
For Tasmania, in 2023/24:
• 7 LGAs recorded population decline (Burnie, Central Highlands, Circular Head, Glenorchy, Hobart, Launceston and West Coast)
• 15 of the 29 LGAs recorded Natural Decline – more deaths than births
• 12 LGAs recorded Net Internal Migration loss
• 4 LGAs recorded both Natural Decline and Net Internal Migration loss (Central Highlands, Devonport, Hobart, West Coast)
The decisions that have been made (or not made) in the past, has led to this situation.
The decisions we make (or don’t make) now and into the future can, and will, influence future population change and our long-term trajectory.
This is because, public policy both shapes and responds to demographic trends (or it should) and directly, and indirectly, influences demographic change.
The fabric of a place - social, political and economic - is fundamentally determined by its socio-economic demographics.
Migration – internal and overseas - has the greatest influence on the socio-economic demographic profile of a place than any other factor.
That is not to say that migration is the root cause of the socio-economic demographic profile of a place, but to say that the root cause of the decision to migrate – the decision to either move to, move from, or to stay in a place – is the root cause of the socio-economic demographic profile of a place.
While these may sound like outlandish statements to make, my professional learning series – Rethinking Demographic Change – and the first course – Fundamentals in decision-making and demographic change using a systems thinking framework explores these concepts intensively and intentionally so that we can make decisions that shape the future socio-demographic profile that we want and need.
see more at www.lisadenny.com.au