Record influx swells state

Victoria the place to be

VICTORIA had a record inflow of people moving here from other states last year, says a new report.

Its release comes as an antimass immigration party will campaign against overdevelopment at November’s state election.

Net interstate migration to Victoria hit 18,193 in 2016-17 — the highest level ever and a stark contrast to the net loss of 1924 people to other states experienced in 2007-08.

Victoria had the highest rate of interstate people inflow of any state, ahead of Queensland with 17,795, Tasmania (1522) and the ACT (1230), said the ABS report Migration Australia 2016-17.

All other states and territories had net losses, with NSW suffering the highest (-15,161), WA (-13,934), SA (-6778) and NT (-2867).

In terms of net overseas migration last year, NSW had the most with 104,478, followed by Victoria with 90,009.

However, Victoria outstripped NSW in total population growth given that it had an extra 33,000 people moving from interstate relative to NSW.

With Melbourne bearing the lion’s share of the state’s growth, the Sustainable Australia Party has announced it will campaign in the upcoming state poll for better planning to stop overdevelopment.

“Melbourne is suffering from cancerous growth and overdevelopment. This growth is overwhelming our hospitals, schools and roads, and grinding our city to a halt,” said party federal president William Bourke.

Mr Bourke said major planning reforms were needed to give power to local communities on project decisions, and the State Government should demand that the Federal Government slash immigration to a net annual intake of 70,000.

The party will contest all eight state Upper House seats.

The ABS report revealed that in 2016-17 Australia had a net overseas migrant intake of 262,488 people.

This included the arrival of 104,000 foreign students, 26,280 working holiday makers, and 53,840 people with visitor visas.