The ABS has an interesting document out that covers demographics [PDF] . It is a good read.

It has the populations of the major Australian cities;

  • 4,254,894 : Sydney (NSW)
  • 3,634,233 : Melbourne (Vic)
  • 1,810,943 : Brisbane (Qld)
  • 1,129,269 : Adelaide (SA)
  • 1,477,815 : Perth (WA)
  • 510,885 : Newcastle (NSW)
  • 482,037 : Gold Coast-Tweed (Qld/NSW)
  • 371,441 : Canberra-Queanbeyan (ACT/NSW)
  • 275,883 : Wollongong (NSW)
  • 212,864 : Sunshine Coast (Qld)
  • 203,638 : Hobart (Tas)
  • 165,761 : Geelong (Vic)
  • 148,767 : Townsville (Qld)
  • 123,408 : Cairns (Qld)

I can remember when I was young that the Greater Sydney Area had four million in it. I presume that was the Sydney basin and included Newcastle and Wollongong in it, though the 'gong being part of Sydney is a stretch.

Sydney is not growing by much, in the last five years it has grown less than one percent. Brisbane, Tweed, the Sunshine Coast, Townsville have all grown by over two percent with the the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast being over three.

Sydney and Melbourne make up a big chunk of their states' populations as well. NSW has 6.8 million in it, while Victoria has just over five million.

In nearly all cases the capital city makes up more than half the state's population. I think this is a good graph that shows removing the states is unwise. The capital cities would remain well represented as their local councils would be large and powerful, but outside of the capital cities there would be a distinct lack of representation. The councils would have little voice to buffer themselves against the federal government.
Cam Riley: South Sea Republic. Freedom, liberty, equity and an Australian Republic.