Australian state wants more migrants to boost population growth

The South Australian government has called for a greater share of Australia ’ s

migrant intake to be directed to the state .

Steven Marshall , Premier of South Australia , on Wednesday revealed that he has

lobbied the federal government to grant his state “ preferred migrant status ’’ to

counter its stagnating population growth .

Marshall ’ s revelation came the day after Matthew Guy , leader of the opposition in

the neighbouring state of Victoria, claimed that Melbourne ’ s rapid population

growth left the city “ bursting . ”

Marshall , who led the SA

Liberal Party to a historic

election victory in March , used

his first meeting with Prime

Minister Malcolm Turnbull to

address the issue .

“ At the moment in Australia we

have got a two - speed economy

in terms of population.

“ You have got some places

which are struggling with massive population increases and you have got other

parts of the country which have got very, very low population growth .

“ We would ultimately like to negotiate a preferential migration status for South

Australia , especially around increasing regional population and international

students , ’’ he stressed .

Australia ’ s population is expected to hit 25 million in August , well ahead of the

schedule laid out by previous projections .

South Australia has had the slowest population growth of any mainland state since

2012 , recording a net interstate migration loss of 23 , 000 people .