STATE POPULATION TO HIT 8 MILLION
Darrell Giles
POLITICAL EDITOR
Queensland’s population is expected to double to eight million within 50 years.
New State Government figures show Queensland will continue to attract record numbers of interstate and overseas migrants and remain the nation’s economic powerhouse.
Population Projections to 2056: Queensland Statistical Divisions also reveals that our population is ageing, which will put further strain on an over-burdened health service.
Premier Anna Bligh said the data suggested more than four million people would be living in the southeast corner by 2031.
“The number of people on the Gold Coast is expected to rise from 12.7 per cent of Queensland’s population to 14.1 per cent,” Ms Bligh said.
“Significantly, while western areas of the state are expected to have small growth, Mackay’s population is expected to rise to more than 255,000.”
Ms Bligh said Queensland has seen unpredicted growth in business, infrastructure and productivity in the past decade.
And it would continue to boom.
“It’s never been a secret that Queensland is a great place to live and work,” she said.
Treasurer Andrew Fraser said Queensland’s population would increase from 4.1 million in 2006 to almost six million within 20 years and reach a milestone of eight million by 2056.
“This is a growth rate of between 2.2 per cent and 2.3 per cent each year to 2011,” Mr Fraser said. “Along with having record low unemployment levels – making the state attractive to interstate and international migrants – we are also in the midst of a baby boom.
“The number of children in Queensland is projected to increase by 33 per cent to 1.1 million.”
The number of older Queenslanders was expected to double by 2031.
Mr Fraser said the changing demographic would have implications for the make-up of the Queensland workforce.
“Both of these factors need to be taken into account when planning for the future – and the future of our workforce,” he said.
Ms Bligh said the population projections pointed to strong growth in Brisbane, although an increasing number of people wanted a “sea change” or “tree change”.
Darrell Giles
POLITICAL EDITOR
Queensland’s population is expected to double to eight million within 50 years.
New State Government figures show Queensland will continue to attract record numbers of interstate and overseas migrants and remain the nation’s economic powerhouse.
Population Projections to 2056: Queensland Statistical Divisions also reveals that our population is ageing, which will put further strain on an over-burdened health service.
Premier Anna Bligh said the data suggested more than four million people would be living in the southeast corner by 2031.
“The number of people on the Gold Coast is expected to rise from 12.7 per cent of Queensland’s population to 14.1 per cent,” Ms Bligh said.
“Significantly, while western areas of the state are expected to have small growth, Mackay’s population is expected to rise to more than 255,000.”
Ms Bligh said Queensland has seen unpredicted growth in business, infrastructure and productivity in the past decade.
And it would continue to boom.
“It’s never been a secret that Queensland is a great place to live and work,” she said.
Treasurer Andrew Fraser said Queensland’s population would increase from 4.1 million in 2006 to almost six million within 20 years and reach a milestone of eight million by 2056.
“This is a growth rate of between 2.2 per cent and 2.3 per cent each year to 2011,” Mr Fraser said. “Along with having record low unemployment levels – making the state attractive to interstate and international migrants – we are also in the midst of a baby boom.
“The number of children in Queensland is projected to increase by 33 per cent to 1.1 million.”
The number of older Queenslanders was expected to double by 2031.
Mr Fraser said the changing demographic would have implications for the make-up of the Queensland workforce.
“Both of these factors need to be taken into account when planning for the future – and the future of our workforce,” he said.
Ms Bligh said the population projections pointed to strong growth in Brisbane, although an increasing number of people wanted a “sea change” or “tree change”.
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