Migration slump could gift SEQ a building âcatch-upâ decade Weâre sorry, this service is currently unavailable. Please try again later. Dismiss Save Normal text size Advertisement The slow return of overseas migration could give south-east Queensland space to get ahead on major infrastructure projects, even as population growth continues to outpace all other Australian states and capital cities. Leading demographer and social researcher Mark McCrindle said the silver lining of international border closures, which has kept at bay the net national population increase of 230,000 a year, was that it would enable the region to prepare for what was expected to be a decade boom.