The regions should fight against a ‘Big Australia’

Regional Australia stands to lose from the continuation of the ‘Big Australia’ mass migration policy.

In 2000-01, Australia’s regions accounted for 35% of the population. As of 2024-25, the latest available data from the ABS shows that the regions’ share of Australia’s population has declined to 32%.

The Centre for Population’s 2025 Population Statement projects that Australia’s population will grow by 13.4 million people over the 41 years to 2065–66. To put this level of growth into perspective, it is roughly equivalent to adding another Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth to the nation’s current population as of 2024–25.