The SACES research confirmed the links between South Australia’s economic performance and demographic profile, and explored how a strategic population policy might be used to improve the state’s productivity, stem regional decline, and address national migration challenges.

In the context of our state growing at a significantly lower rate than others, this work considers what councils and communities can do to retain who they have, attract the skills they need, and identify how the federal and state governments can assist. 

The LGA engaged with the local government sector to explore individual councils’ current capacity to accommodate population change, and the types of investments required to increase that capacity.

Between late 2018 and early 2019, all councils were surveyed regarding their readiness for population increase or “carrying capacity” in the short, mid and long terms.

The results have been used to assist the Australian Local Government Association in its advocacy to the federal government for a review of the migration Visa system; the population roundtable hosted by the Federal Minister for Cities, Urban Infrastructure and Population; and the state government’s Economic and Finance Committee’s Inquiry into the Economic Contribution of Migration in South Australia.