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Australia’s population

19 Apr 2010

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.

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