O’Brien – Victoria takes the advantage on interstate migration

· Victoria’s population grew by almost 108,000 persons in 2013, bringing our population to 5.79 million
· $27 billion infrastructure program to support population growth
· Coalition Government is building a better Victoria

While Queensland and New South Wales battled it out in State of Origin, the real action is on the ground in Victoria, Treasurer Michael O’Brien said today.

Victoria’s population grew by 1.9 per cent over the year, or around 107,900 persons, according to Australia Bureau of Statistics (ABS) figures released today.

Victoria’s population growth rate of 1.9 per cent is above the national growth rate of 1.7 per cent and is the second highest among the states, behind only resource-rich Western Australia.

“The Victorian Coalition Government has created the right economic environment to attract people to this great State,” Mr O’Brien said.

Victoria had the highest net interstate migration of any state in 2013 with
7,500 people moving to Victoria, ahead of Queensland (+6,900) for the first time in over three decades. WA and Queensland were the only other states to record positive interstate migration.

“People are voting with their feet. People want to live in Victoria because we have a strong economy and a $27 billion infrastructure program that will create more jobs,” Mr O’Brien said.

Victoria’s population increase was also driven by overseas migration, with
62,300 more people choosing Victoria as their place to call home over the past year.

“Our 2014-15 Budget delivers a record spend of up to $27 billion in job-creating major infrastructure projects designed to cater for population growth,” Mr O’Brien said.

“By contrast, Daniel Andrews and the Labor oppose the infrastructure we need to match our growing population. They oppose the East West Link, they oppose the Melbourne Rail Link, the Airport Rail Link and they oppose the Cranbourne-Pakenham Rail Corridor project.

“The only thing that Daniel Andrews and his Labor Party do support is the militant, job-destroying behavior of the CFMEU trade union on construction sites throughout the state.

“Daniel Andrews and his Labor Party need to explain to all Victorians why they are opposing the transformational infrastructure projects this state needs to support a growing population.”