Population change between 1986 and 1996 in Australia: population numbers, components of change and age profiles

The 1996 Census of Population and Housing reveals that between 1986 and 1996 Queensland recorded the major share (31.2 per cent) of Australia’s overall population growth, followed by New South Wales (29.3 per cent) and Victoria (17.4 per cent). The authors estimate that, in this period, there was a net interstate movement of some 426,000 persons, with Queensland accumulating 90.5 per cent of all net interstate movers. This paper explores some of the demographic consequences of this movement for Queensland. The coastal centres are attracting a wide age-spectrum of movers. On the other hand, Queensland’s declining regions are losing young people at a faster rate than the general statewide decline in the proportion of young people. However, it appears that older people are remaining in Queensland’s declining, rural areas, or at least are not leaving at the same rate as young people. Copyright. Monash University and the author/s