Q. Do you think Australia needs a larger population, a smaller population or about the same population in the following areas?
|
|
Larger population |
Smaller population |
Same population |
Don’t know |
|
Large capital cities – Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane |
7% |
36% |
51% |
6% |
|
Other capital cities like Adelaide, Perth, Hobart |
36% |
12% |
44% |
7% |
|
Major regional centres |
56% |
8% |
28% |
8% |
|
Smaller regional towns |
64% |
6% |
22% |
7% |
There was strong support for increased population in the less populated areas of Australia.
Only 7% supported larger populations in the major capitals cities, while 36% supported larger populations in Adelaide, Perth and Hobart.
More than half supported larger populations in major regional centres (56%) and smaller regional towns (64%).
Opinions about the populations of the major capitals were similar across states, but respondents from SA/WA/Tasmania were less likely to want larger populations in their capitals cities (22% want larger population and 61% the same population).
Liberal voters and Greens voters were more likely to favour larger populations in regional areas. 61% of Liberal voters favoured larger populations in regional centres and 70% in smaller towns. 70% of Greens voters favoured larger populations in regional centres and 79% in smaller towns.
economy, environment, immigration, infrastructure, population
Q. Do you agree or disagree with the following statements about Australia’s population growth?
| Total agree | Total disagree | Strongly agree | Agree | Disagree | Strongly disagree | Don’t know | |
| We just don’t have the infrastructure and services to manage more population growth | 75% | 19% | 36% | 39% | 14% | 5% | 6% |
| Immigration should be slowed as it causes too much change to our society | 64% | 29% | 32% | 32% | 20% | 9% | 7% |
| Australia has a fragile environment that cannot cope with a much larger population | 61% | 30% | 24% | 37% | 24% | 6% | 8% |
| Having a larger population will help our economy | 38% | 52% | 7% | 31% | 34% | 18% | 10% |
| Australia has the space and resources to cope with a much larger population | 35% | 58% | 8% | 27% | 31% | 27% | 7% |
When it comes to statements about population growth, most people agree that we just don’t have the infrastructure and services to manage more population growth (75%). 64% agree that immigration should be slowed as it causes too much change to our society and 61% think Australia has a fragile environment that cannot cope with a much larger population. More than half (58%) disagree that Australia has the space and resources to cope with a much larger population.
Labor voters were more likely to agree that having a larger population will help our economy (42%) and disagree that we just don’t have the infrastructure and services to manage more population growth (23%).
Coalition voters were more likely to agree that we just don’t have the infrastructure and services to manage more population growth (82%) and agree that immigration should be slowed as it causes too much change to our society (74%).
Greens voters were more likely to agree that Australia has a fragile environment that cannot cope with a much larger population (66%). Comments »
Q. It has been estimated that Australia will have a population of 36 million by 2050. Do you think this will be good or bad for Australia?
|
|
% |
|
Total good |
24% |
|
Total bad |
48% |
|
Very good |
5% |
|
Good |
19% |
|
Neither good nor bad |
23% |
|
Bad |
30% |
|
Very bad |
18% |
|
Don’t know |
5% |
24% of people surveyed think that Australia’s population increasing to 36 million by 2050 will be good for Australia, 48% think it will be bad for Australia, 23% think it is neither good nor bad and 5% don’t know.
Labor voters were more likely than Coalition and Green voters to think it is a good thing (32% Labor v 24% Coalition, 17% Green).
People aged 55 years and over were more likely to think it is a bad thing (51%), while people aged 18 – 24 were more likely to think it is a good thing (34%).
Males were more likely than females to think it is a good thing (29% v 20%). Comments »