Monday, 9 December 2019
The South Australian Business Chamber is calling on the State Government to release a population growth strategy, in response to the findings from its inquiry into the economic contribution of migrants to South Australia.
The economic and finance committee’s final report on the inquiry supported the South Australian Business Chamber’s key recommendations, including that the South Australian Government develop a state population strategy to increase SA’s population growth rate to be at least equal to the 1.6 per cent national population growth rate.
The South Australian Business Chamber Chief Executive Martin Haese said the findings also supported recommendations that a state-wide strategy includes greater consultation with businesses, the private sector and local government and recognition of existing regional growth strategies.
“Effective steps must be taken by the State Government to encourage population growth across all of South Australia, and not just metropolitan Adelaide, as a step towards boosting the state’s economy,” Mr Haese said
“Population growth, particularly of the working age population, is essential to support our state’s future because it increases business opportunities to grow through customers and trade, and it offers an opportunity to develop our skills base.”
Mr Haese said the South Australian Business Chamber did not advocate for a growth strategy which would see our population reach levels similar to Sydney or Melbourne, instead supporting a modest 1.6 per cent annual growth rate.
In the South Australian Business Chamber’s 2018 Regional Voice Survey, 68 per cent of regional businesses also called for a population growth strategy to boost their local economy.
“We know that in some regions there’s close to full employment and in some other regional areas unemployment sits at less than five per cent,” Mr Haese said. “Population growth works hand in hand with jobs growth, and we know there are also regions crying out for skilled and unskilled workers to take up work opportunities.”
Mr Haese said while population growth wouldn’t solve the state’s economic challenges on its own, it would aid the economy and ensure it remained relevant on a national level.
“The seat of Port Adelaide was abolished in 2018 due to our declining population and interstate migration, reducing South Australia’s federal parliamentary representation to 10 seats. We need to grow our state and our voice nationally and internationally in politics, business and industry – from engineering to education, health care, science and technology.”
The South Australian Business Chamber has been a long-time advocate for a state-wide population growth strategy, including in the Charter for a More Prosperous South Australia.
“We commend the government-led committee for its support of population growth and encourage the State Government to implement a strategy as soon as possible,” he said.
