WA and Qld lead Aust population growth

The mining states of WA and Queensland are driving population growth in Australia according to the latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Australia's population grew by 432,609 people last year.

Population growth consolidated, increasing by 2.0 per cent over the past year, but easing from the 40 year highs reached in March 2009.

A total of 277,700 people migrated to Australia over 2009.

Over the 2009 calendar year, 83,787 migrants settled in NSW, followed by Victoria (77,502), Queensland (53,265), Western Australia (38,078), South Australia (17,349), ACT (3,775), Tasmania (2,046), and Northern Territory (1,909).

There were 295,700 babies born in 2009, down slightly from the record 301,000 births in the year to June 2009.

Population growth eased in all states and territories except for South Australia. Over the past year population growth was fastest in Western Australia (2.65 per cent), followed by Queensland (2.44 per cent), Northern Territory (2.21 per cent), Victoria (2.13 per cent), ACT (1.83 per cent), NSW (1.64 per cent), South Australia (1.32 per cent), and Tasmania (0.89 per cent).

"Not surprisingly population growth is strongest in the mining states, with Western Australia and Queensland leading the charge," said CommSec economist Savanth Sebastian.

"No doubt as the global economic recovery gains traction and mining investment is increased a further demand on labour resources will be required.

"In recent commentary the Reserve Bank has also highlighted the emerging labour shortages in the mining and construction sectors - a trend that will gain traction in coming years and ensure that strong population growth will remain a feature of the mining states," he said.