THE TURNAROUND IN AUSTRALIA - SOME 1ST OBSERVATIONS FROM THE 1991 CENSUS

It is important to undertake separate analysis of the non-metropolitan population. The aim of this paper is to utilise recently released cen sus results to examine patterns of population change in non-metropolit an Australia during the 1986-91 period, focusing particularly upon the net migration component of that change. The paper presents an overvie w of recent trends in population change in non-metropolitan areas and then moves to an analysis of net migration patterns in non-metropolita n local government areas during the late 1980s using a Life Table Surv ival Ratio technique to estimate net migration. It appears that the tr ends observed in the early 1980s have continued into the late 1980s an d early 1990s, and that overall the 'turnaround' is slowing down and b ecoming more diversified, more complex, and much less predictable in t he 1990s.