Australia’s non-metropolitan population: trends and implications

Abstract

A third of Australia’s population live outside the capital cities and they have distinctive dynamics and composition. This presentation demonstrates that there are a number of myths of non-metropolitan populations. It outlines the dynamics of growth, the increasing diversity and changing spatial distribution of populations outside the cities. There is an increasing gap between areas which are growing and those declining, giving rise to quite different implications for planning. Professor Hugo argues that there is a need for a new consideration of Australia’s settlement system in the light of contemporary and emerging economic, environmental and social trends.