WHAT’LL MAKE US STAY

Largest ever population survey cites multiculturalism as NT’s biggest asset

THE Territory’s famous multiculturalism may be its greatest strength in arresting a declining population, the results of the NT’s largest ever population survey have revealed.

The “Territory and Me” survey – conducted by researchers at Charles Darwin University’s Northern Institute – polled more than 5000 current and former Territorians on their intentions to stay or leave the jurisdiction and their reasons for their choice.

It found between 70 per cent and 80 per cent of overseas-born Territorians across all age groups planned on still living in the Territory in two years’ time, compared with just over 50 per cent of Australianborn residents in the “early career” bracket.

“We might expect young overseas-born adults to remain in the Territory to complete tertiary courses or satisfy visa conditions, but the differences between overseas and Australian-born residents are maintained into retirement,” the survey report reads.

“This suggests once overseas migrants settle in the Territory, their attachment to the Territory remains strong throughout their life.”

The report’s authors found overseas migrants would be “important to growing the Territory’s population in the future” due to lower rates of leaving and intending to leave across all life stages.

“The results also suggest that, if we can retain overseasborn Territorians for five years, their odds of leaving reduce further,” they wrote.

The survey also found the reasons for Territorians planning to leave the jurisdiction were “very much tied to the person’s age”, with more than 35 per cent of “early career” leavers citing work and family as reasons for heading south.

Australian Defence Force transfer was also a big reason for leaving for early and midcareer Territorians, while the economy, retirement, cost of living and crime dominated for older residents.

The survey’s authors wrote that ideally the survey would be repeated in two years’ time to help governments and policy makers best strategise to help maintain and grow the Territory’s population.

“From this, government, business and others can assess where and how to direct efforts to attract workers, families and others to Territory communities, as well as evaluate initiatives that have been put in place to further these aims,” they wrote.