Western Australia has recorded the largest percentage increase in net overseas migration in Australia, but its population growth was the third lowest in the country.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics population figures for the year to September have revealed WA’s net overseas migration (people arriving versus people leaving) increased by 14.2 per cent, from around 12,000 people to approximately 13,600 people.
The number of people leaving WA for overseas was down 10.8 per cent, the largest decrease in the country.
The number of people moving to WA from from overseas also fell, but by only 4.5 per cent.
The figures come a day after Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced his government will cut the annual migration ceiling from 190,000 to 160,000 places for the next four years.
Opposition leader Bill Shorten confirmed Labor is also willing to lower the annual migrant intake to 160,000.
WA also recorded a net interstate migration loss of around 10,300.
But this was 25.2 per cent better off than its loss in the previous year of approximately 13,790 people.
WA’s population grew by 0.88 per cent for the year, or around 22,600 people, to sit at 2.6 million.
Australia’s population grew by 1.6 per cent, an increase of 395,100, to reach 25.1 million.
Over the past year, population growth was strongest in Victoria (up 2.20 per cent), followed by the ACT (1.93 per cent), Queensland (1.74 per cent), NSW (1.51 per cent) and Tasmania (1.15 per cent).
South Australia grew by 0.79 per cent and the Northern Territory shrubnk by 0.18 per cent.
