Sydney’s immigrant population has grown by more than 350,000 in just three years, while almost 120,000 locals left the city, new data shows.
According to an analysis by conservative think tank the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA), overseas migration contributed to 108% of the city’s population growth during the Albanese Labor government’s first three full financial years after the 2022 election.
The figure is higher than 100% because overseas arrivals exceeded the number of locals leaving Sydney. Net overseas migration into Sydney was 352,874, 113,088 residents left, and the natural increase (births minus deaths), was 86,157.
The areas with the largest net overseas migration increases were Parramatta on 49,643, the inner south-west on 48,358, and the city and inner south on 47,731, making up a combined 41% of Sydney’s immigrant population growth.
IPA Senior Fellow Dr Kevin You said locals were being driven out of Sydney and replaced by foreigners due to Labor’s “unchecked” mass immigration policy.
“Sydney has been ground zero for the unprecedented post-pandemic mass migration, which has hammered the day-to-day living standards and lived experience of those living in Sydney and its immediate surroundings,” Dr You said.
“There must be a significant and immediate cut to immigration in order to restore the living standards of Australians – and to start to fix breakdowns in social cohesion and sectarian divisions and conflict.”
Melbourne’s net overseas migration of 349,476 was almost as high as Sydney’s during the same period, but only 28,886 locals left.
Adelaide, the ACT, Darwin and Hobart also experienced net negative domestic migration, recording figures of -7,134, -4,042, -5,092, and -6,828 respectively, while net overseas migration in each area was 66,917, 19,091, 9,092, and 7,473.
Perth had the third-highest net overseas migration, 153,454 and net domestic migration of 34,130. Brisbane’s figures were 130,582 and 41,236.
Header image: A New Year’s Eve crowd in Sydney (Kobie Thatcher – X).
