Migration boom swells Australia

AUSTRALIA'S population is growing at its fastest rate in nearly two decades, thanks to rising fertility rates and an immigration boom bigger than that during the aftermath of both world wars. The number of Australians grew by 1.5 per cent, or 315,700 people, over the year to June 30, topping 21 million for the first time. Australia now ranks above the world average for population growth of 1.2 per cent, and only just behind the rapidly expanding Indian population, which is growing by 1.6 per cent and expected to overtake China by 2050 as the most populous country. Of the two possible sources of population growth - immigration and natural increase - it is immigration that is driving the population surge. A record net 177,600 people migrated to Australia last financial year - arrivals minus the people who left - busting a previous record of 172,900 set in the Bicentennial year of 1988. This also exceeds the huge net influx of migrants that occurred in the aftermath of both world wars, which was 166,303 in 1919 and 149,507 in 1950. The chief economist at CommSec, Craig James, said immigrants were being attracted by Australia's booming job market. "With skilled workers in short supply, businesses have been ...seeking staff overseas, and it's clear that migrants have responded in droves," Mr James said. Nowhere was this more evident than in the boom state of Western Australia, which clocked the fastest population growth of any state at 2.3 per cent.