Tasmania is making a play to convince more young people to remain in or relocate to the Apple Isle to combat its ageing population.
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In his first State of the State address since the Tasmanian election in May, Premier Jeremy Rockliff will present his government's latest population strategy.
"We have the oldest median age in the nation," Mr Rockliff will say in a speech to the Committee for Economic Development of Australia on Wednesday.
"That has a significant impact on demand for services, and a significant impact on our productivity.
"There is no doubt we must strengthen our focus on increasing the retention and attraction of younger residents.
"And we must do so while still supporting the wellbeing of all Tasmanians across all ages and stages of life."
In 2015, the Tasmanian government set a target to grow its population to 650,000 by 2050 and reached a 2030 goal of 570,000 in 2022 - eight years ahead of schedule.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimated the state's population was 574,705 at the end of 2023, with about 21 per cent aged 65 years and older.
The government's population policy, released on Wednesday, says Tasmania is ageing both structurally and numerically, and shows the population is forecast to hit 641,045 by June 2053.
But it could rise as high as 714,020 or drop to as low as 542,023, based on varying projections from state treasury.
"Whether by births exceeding deaths, people moving to or staying in Tasmania, over time we will aim for an increased proportion of the population being in the 16-64 years age range and a stable or increasing proportion being in the 0-16 years age range," the document says.
"We want to see more working-age members of the community on a consistent basis, especially over the period when demand for age-related services remains relatively high."
The first stage of the Rockliff government's population action plan outlines a raft of initiatives to boost liveability, skills and sustainability.
Chief among them are to audit and release surplus government land for early-childhood and education care services, a $35 million, two-year program to stimulate housing supply and short-term interest-free loans up to $1 million for medium-density units and apartments.
An incentive package to attract GPs to work and live in rural and regional areas and a $1 million youth arts grant funding program were among the other planned moves.
Australian Associated Press
