The Northern Territory lost 868 people to interstate migration in the September quarter, and the Territory’s estimated population decreased by 60 people to 252,469, but the population declined because of the departure of US marines, a NT Department of Treasury and Finance economic brief states.

The figures come from the department’s September quarter economic brief which said the Territory recorded an annual population increase of 0.7 per cent, compared to a national increase of 2.5 per cent.

The net interstate migration loss of 868 people, compared to the natural increase of 529 people (comprising 828 births and 299 deaths), a worsening on the net loss of 529 people in the September quarter 2022..

In the September quarter of 2023, net overseas migration contributed 279 people to the NT to the population, while nationally net overseas migration contributed 145,244 people.

While in the year to September net overseas migration in the Territory contributed 3,189 people to the population, an improvement compared to the net gain of 2,304 people in the previous year, while nationally, net overseas migration contributed 548,770 people.

The economic brief said the change in the NT’s population was impacted by a significant increase in overseas departures of ‘other visa’ holders, a total of 1,030 people, which coincided with US marines leaving the Territory after a military exercise.

Excluding migration by ‘other visa’ holders, the Territory’s quarterly population change would be an increase of around 710 people, the economic brief said.

There were 3,966 departures from, and 3,098 arrivals to, the Territory in the quarter in review.

In the year to September 2023, interstate migration meant 3,606 people left the Territory, a worsening of 58.4 per cent on the loss of 2,276 people in the previous year.

Last week the Lawler Government introduced its Portable Long Service Leave (Community Services Sector) Bill into parliament which Minister for Public Employment Selena Uibo said aimed to reduce the amount of community services sector workers moving interstate.

She said the bill recognised the transient nature of workers moving between employers in the community services sector, meaning they often do not achieve the necessary length of service with a particular employer to qualify for access to long service leave after 10 years of service.

Ms Uibo said about 10,000 people working in the NT would be covered by the scheme.

“This Bill is seeking to remedy access to long service leave entitlements for our essential workers in the community sector by recognising their service to the sector rather than to a single employer. The government is addressing the retention of skilled workers in the Territory community sectors through this Bill,” Ms Uibo said.