Sustainable Population Australia - SA & NT Branch

13/10/2026

It’s good to see a labour economist being quoted as saying that the reduction of migrant numbers could boost productivity because firms may need to innovate as a result.

Most SPA followers would realise this, but it’s a sign that the discourse around immigration in the media is changing, albeit slowly.

https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/the-cost-of-cutting-foreign-workers-fares-spike-in-taylor-s-migration-gamble-20261008-p613jx.html

02/10/2026

“Migration lawyers and agents who help people pursue baseless visa claims will be targeted under a federal government crackdown on those who profit from attempts to ‘game’ the system.

“The number of people on bridging visas has more than tripled from about 130,000 in 2017 to 413,000 this year, as a growing number of people remain in Australia while lengthy appeals are resolved.

“An average of 1,580 onshore protection claims are lodged each month and as of June almost 37,000 rejected claims were before the Administrative Review Tribunal.

“About 90 per cent of protection applications are refused at primary stage, while a similar amount is refused on appeal.

“Australia's net overseas migration (NOM) was 292,100 in the year to March, with the government pledging to reduce the rate to 225,000 by next financial year.”

Labor is moving against lawyers and migration agents accused of profiting from visa applications that have little prospect of success.

30/09/2026

“The state government has acknowledged the intensity of the strain at the hospital, pointing to population growth in Adelaide's north as one of several factors behind the excess pressure.”

And the state government wants to grow the population even more!

A non-verbal man who was later diagnosed with pneumonia was ramped for more than nine hours at an outer suburbs hospital amid significant demand that the doctors union says left staff feeling "helpless".

30/09/2026

"The Intergenerational Report says we need more vocational skills – but federal funding for them is set to drop"
This is not good news when we have a shortage of tradies and other TAFE educated people and we will need more in the future.
We need to educate our own young people, not bring in overseas skilled tradies. Apprentice pay needs to be raised too, we can't expect people to live for 4 years on a pittance, especially older people who want to change careers.

https://theconversation.com/the-intergenerational-report-says-we-need-more-vocational-skills-but-federal-funding-for-them-is-set-to-drop-292694

29/09/2026

The newly formed Adelaide University are whining about cuts to international students.

"Adelaide University is not on track to meet its international student targets and is staring down tens of millions in lost revenue, with the federal government's migration clampdown putting pressure on the business case for the newly merged institution.

The new university opened its doors to students in January after a roughly three-year process to bring together the University of Adelaide and University of South Australia, backed by a $464.5 million package from the state government.

The business case for the merger projected that the new Adelaide University could attract 6,000 additional international students by 2034 compared to what the two universities had enrolled in 2023.

But statistics supplied by Adelaide University show its international student numbers are going backwards."

The new Adelaide University is not on track to meet its international student targets and is staring down tens of millions in lost revenue, with the federal government's migration clampdown squeezing the business case for the newly merged institution.

26/09/2026

This article shows up exactly how we got into this mess with immigration levels.

https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/the-moment-australia-s-immigration-program-went-off-the-rails-20260925-p60zhs.html

Behind the headlines, a little-known legislative instrument was implemented a decade ago that would have a profound impact on Australia’s immigration program.

23/09/2026

The Adelaide City Council have declared a Homelessness Emergency and still our Premier wants to bring in more people, when we can't even house the current population.

"Adelaide City councillors have declared a homelessness emergency across the C*D and North Adelaide saying it was experiencing “unacceptable levels” of homelessness and rough sleeping.

Latest numbers from the Adelaide Zero Project show just in the city of Adelaide there are between 200 and 240 people now sleeping rough every night, camping in the park lands, sleeping in doorways or seeking out shelters.

These figures do not account for homelessness throughout the rest of the state and come alongside the Adelaide Zero Project established in 2018 having long-missed its target to end rough sleeping in the inner city of Adelaide by 2025.

The move was spearheaded by councillor Phillip Martin at a meeting on Tuesday night, Martin claiming current levels of homelessness were the worst he had seen in his lifetime.

The decision would spur the council into leading a community wide approach to reducing homelessness and rough sleeping working with sector providers, state and federal agencies to ensure there was adequate crisis accommodation in Adelaide.

Adelaide City Council would also encourage other local government areas to declare a homelessness emergency and lobby for all levels of government to develop policies to help Australians avoid homelessness.

Councillors also voted to provide additional support to rough sleepers during “code red” extreme heat weather emergencies, with care packages that include a hat, sunscreen, reusable water bottle, electrolyte sachets and muesli bars to be provided through libraries.

A “homelessness emergency” has been declared across the Adelaide C*D, with the city council urging other councils to follow suit.

22/09/2026

The Intergenerational report projects expansion of 11 million people by 2065, lifting the population to 39 million people.
SPA says such an outcome would be disastrous for the biophysical environment that supports all life on the continent.

Each population projection since Australia’s first Intergenerational Report in 2002 has significantly under called the outcome. Sustainable Population Australia (SPA) has no confidence that the latest effort will alter that track record. The report projects expansion of 11 million by 2065, lifting...

22/09/2026

A population of 39 million people in Australia doesn't bear thinking about!

The Intergenerational Report projects population growth slowing from an average of 1.4% a year over the last 40 years to 0.9% a year over the coming four decades.

22/09/2026

Where is the SA Water Plan Premier Malinauskas? asks Liberal Shadow Environment & Water Minister MLC Nicola Centofanti in this opinion piece in the Australian Regional & Rural News.
It deserves to be front page of the Advertiser!
Worryingly, she claims that Minister for Housing Nick Champion said that "the state’s water system is “at capacity”, with no immediate additional funding planned before 2028."
Where will the water come from for all the new housing estates the Premier is spruiking?
We will be writing to the Premier, Housing Minister and Environment & Water Minister asking the same thing.

Water security has always been fundamental to South Australia.