Dr Liz Allen

@drdemography.com

5501 Followers 394 Following

Demographer | Demography, populations, social trends, surveys, data, methods, census. Educator, researcher. | Author ‘The Future of Us’. The original Dr Demography! @DrDemography on X and Insta

In-language support options for the 2026 Census
ANU Community Day on 15 August The Australian National University (ANU) turns 80 this year, and we're inviting Canberra to join the celebration. Experience our beautiful campus and discover the rich stories of the ANU community.
Grandparenting in Australia: A Multidisciplinary Symposium Thursday 26 November 2026 The Australian National University Call For Papers We are planning a special issue of a Q1 journal to follow the symposium, with full papers due by April 2027. Indigenous and ECR scholars may be eligible for a limited number of travel subsidies. The symposium will also be free and catering will be provided. Please submit a 300-word abstract and a short bio to Associate Professor Francesco Ricatti (francesco.ricatti@anu.edu.au) and Dr Emily Gallagher (emily.gallagher@anu.edu.au) by 31 July 2026.
The quickest way to make being online safer for children and teens would be to kick all adult men off the internet, the Canadian psychologist Candice Odgers believes. Men are the biggest perpetrators of sextortion and most likely to spread misinformation, she says.
Jill Marinelli @JillMarinelli1 X.com Something to remember Census night Make sure to tick a Christian religion even if you are an atheist on census night. We need to ensure Australia stays primarily a Christian country. Please do your bit to help keep Australia Christian
Australia's universities will be forced to publish consultancy expenditure, the decisions of governance meetings and salaries of executives under a set of new federal principles. A new standard on preventing and responding to racism, which will force universities to adopt a contentious definition of anti-Semitism in an attempt to stamp out discrimination, is also set to be implemented.
Opinion Ask an expert My super will soon hit the $2m cap. What should I do with the excess? Paul Benson Money contributor
They are insidious and pernicious, says US psychologist Ramani Durvasula. "Quietly hostile, passive aggressive, sullen, brooding, victimised. A covert narcissist's tactics only show up when there are no witnesses, apart from the victims."
Number % Fully responding Total 5,304 60.5 Non response Refusal 79 0.9 Non Response 3,327 37.9 Part Response 58 0.7 Total 3,464 39.5 Total 8,768 100 Some survey respondents were unable or unwilling to provide a response to certain data items. The records for these people were retained in the sample and the missing values were recorded as 'Not stated' or 'Don't know'. No imputation was undertaken for these missing values.
On average, overall life satisfaction was 7.1 in 2025, similar to 2020 (7.2), but lower than 2019 (7.5) and 2014 (7.6).
Dick Smith's warning as Australian population explodes: "100 million by 2100' Australian entrepreneur Dick Smith has issued a grim warning on Australia's future, revealing what he sees as the 'relentless' problem.
Me pictured in a pastel Vogue codes image. Dr Liz Allen Demographer, the Australian national university
Population clock and pyramid Population clock 28,000,139
FECCA 2026 Proudly brought to you by FECCA ACT CANBERRA, ACT 15 - 16 OCTOBER 2026
Data centre investment drives new capital expenditure
Me selfie
1 2 3 What did we recommend? There were four recommendations to the ABS regarding: Census risk management arrangements; early establishment of cyber security advisory arrangements; preparation, approval and review of security architecture documentation; and addressing risks stemming from the broader ABS ICT environment. • The ABS agreed to the recommendations.
Opinion Is climate education in primary schools doing more harm than good? By Megan Doherty Updated May 24 2026 - 6:31am, first published
Let’s play population bingo @drdemography Big Australia Outbreed Overpopulation Perpetual growth Importing people It’s not racist Explosion Reclaim Swarm Immigration inflates house prices Unchecked growth Influx Foreign Carrying capacity Mass immigration Overrun Queue jumpers Population ponzi Job thief Termites Illegal alien Population control Swamped Breeders Malthus Immigration suppresses wages Humans are cancer Apocalypse Population-fuelled economy Congestion White replacement Flood gates White flight I’m not racist, but Assimilation
Liz sitting a SOLD sticker on a for sale sign
"Look, exercise is free. Drugs cost money. So if you're under financial pressure, go for a walk." Barron River MP Bree James
An ABS spokesperson said: "The VR Program is intended to help align the ABS' ongoing staffing profile with our available funding and the expected in-demand skills for our future work program in a planned and controlled way."
There are allegations Bell requested minutes of meetings be changed, sought to change employment records, breached conflict of interest provisions, undermined the university's promotions processes, ignored professional guidance, used her seniority to gain advantage for Meares, and overturned the university's central promotions committee after it rejected his bid to become a full professor.
The official who headed Australia's Home Affairs department acted so recklessly and improperly, particularly in his secret dealings with a lobbyist and Liberal Party powerbroker, that it would be very difficult for him to ever work in the public service again. That is among a series of damaging findings contained in a confidential report that led to the sacking of Michael Pezzullo as Home Affairs secretary in late 2023 but which the government declined to release at the time.
By any ordinary measure, Angus Taylor is a rich man. We know this by the trappings of his privileged life: a fourth-generation farmer from south-eastern NSW, alumni of the exclusive The King's School, Sydney University graduate, and a Rhodes scholarship at Oxford University that fast-tracked him to a successful career as a consultant at McKinsey & Company. Much of his life has been divided between Sydney's eastern suburbs and his country homes.
When social media first arose, we all remarked on how dehumanising it was, as people began to speak not directly to each other but via the mediation of computers. Now we are moving into a new era, as many people begin to conduct both their most frequent and most intimate conversations not through the mediation of computers but directly with them. This is occurring within an economic system that many are coming to distrust, even detest, for the way it treats them as something other than people.
Pro-Chancellor Council advises that Ms Alison Kitchen AM has stepped down from her role as Pro-Chancellor, effective 18 February 2026, due to increasing workload commitments. Importantly, Alison remains a committed member of Council. She will continue as Chair of the University's Audit, Finance and Risk Committee and as a member of the Investment Committee. We are grateful for her ongoing contribution in these critical governance roles. Alison has made a significant contribution to the University in her role as Pro-Chancellor, providing thoughtful and considered leadership. Council thanks her for her service and continued commitment to the University. Council is currently considering the process around the appointment of a new Pro-Chancellor.
ABS ramps up national recruitment for the 2026 Census
Chart. Population takeover: Aboriginal & Colonist populations, 1780-1850
Political expenses Taxpayers foot $1.5 million accommodation bill for politicians who already own Canberra homes Michaelia Cash has claimed $123,978 over 40 months, or more than $3000 a month, to stay in a home she owns in the capital.
• GOOD VIBES Griffith University announces renowned archaeologist Dr Bandit Heeler has been offered a professorial chair Image: Linkedin/Griffith University
"It's a non-agonistic interaction involving directed intraspecific oral-oral contact with some movement of the lips or mouth parts, and no food transfer," she tells triple j hack.
Overseas migration for Australia 2015 to 2025
No to racism
There are two glaring lessons for politicians from the Anika Wells' entitlements affair. First, don't grab greedily at every generous entitlement MPs and especially ministers can get, even if "the rules" allow you to do so. Second, if you do get into trouble, show some humility and apologise early (and often).
Under the current rules, family members may travel to join or accompany a parliamentarian when the MP is away from home for the dominant purpose of parliamentary business. The dominant purpose for the family's travel, in turn, must be to support the MP's family life. For most, this means spouses and children flying to Canberra during sitting weeks or meeting the MP elsewhere in Australia when duties take them interstate.
My consultations have revealed that there is virtually no process associated with measuring and benchmarking board member performance. Poor member performance can seriously undermine board teams and entity effectiveness. I recommend an external performance review process for boards each five years that would enable Ministers and Secretaries to be alerted early about issues and, with the support of the Public Service Commissioner, address individual board member performance, including through dismissal.
Changes to content for the 2026 census
The top 10 days Aussies said 'I do' in 2024
As an ageing nation, where baby boomers have become a frequent target of a cross-generational blame game, Dr Allen thinks the current housing debate - and policy approach — needs an urgent overhaul. "Australians are at war with each other in an intergenerational sense and that undermines our future, it actually doesn't help the cause," she says. "We've got a whole-of-system housing mismatch and at each stage of the life cycle, we have a problem. This is not just a young person problem - don't be fooled into thinking that.
Tuesday 25 November 2025 11:30am AEDT | First release 2026 Census topics and data release plan Presents the final topics included in the 2026 Census and the plans of how and when this information will be released. Reference period 2026
Public consultation opens on design of the next census 03 November 2025, 11:00am Stats NZ is seeking feedback on the proposed data collection and content for the next census. New Zealand is moving to a census model that prioritises the use of information already collected by government, known as administrative (admin) data, supported by information collected through a new annual census survey and other tailored
Liz selfie of a zoom screen with the grandparenting national snap shot
Agencies are required to publish details of documents released under the FOI Act within ten working days of an applicant being given access to the documents. The disclosure log requirement does not apply to documents released under the FOI Act containing personal or business information that ANU considers would be unreasonable to publish.
Using linked Census ancestry data to examine all-cause mortality by ethnicity in Australia
Opinion Social media As the world watches, Australia stands up for childhood Decisive regulation of social media is akin to the enfranchisement of women as a piece of revolutionary social policy reform. Peter Hartcher Political and international editor
NSW residential property How Tara turned a 'derelict' inner west shop into a soulful family home From a burnt, graffiti-addled eyesore to a home the neighbourhood is proud of, this renovation was not for the faint of heart.
ANU THE world university rankings. Major slide for ANU around 2020.
"That is a real problem in every western country: middle class women do not have enough kids. Women in the welfare system have lots of kids," Mr Abbott said. "If you're very wealthy you can afford to have as many kids as you want."
Liz selfie in a lift. Wearing a proud to be union tee.
The Australia Institute Research that matters. Cooking the books at the Australian National University An analysis of the ANU accounts Audited financial statements show that the ANU made a 'profit' of $90 million in 2024 and $136 million in 2023. Despite such strong financial results, ANU leadership justifies cuts to staffing and courses by pointing to 'underlying operating deficits'. The underlying deficit changes the audited result in ways that cannot be justified. They appear designed to present a 'crisis' that is contradicted by the audited financial statements. David Richardson and Richard Denniss
I'm running because the Chancellor and current Council are not the leaders we need. They created this crisis we endured - while they stay, ANU's reputational damage continues. Voting for me is voting no confidence in the Chancellor and Council. Guided by Yindyamarra, I want to continue the work of my friends and colleagues Liz Allen and Francis Markham, and be your voice on Council. I also want to ensure Indigenous voices are better heard across ANU.
Special Governance Committee Council committees On 19 August 2025, Council resolved to establish the Special Governance Committee to manage the University's response to the matters raised in the Senate Committee hearing on 12 August 2025. The Committee operates under a Charter, as approved by the Council. Member Category Member Chair Members Mr Andrew Metcalfe AO Professor Joan Leach Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Christine Nixon External Advisor
Australian National University's year of turmoil happened while Julie Bishop was responsible for the institution's governance, and her culpability means she must now resign, says Tony Sheldon, chief whip of the Senate. "Ultimately, the responsibility [for ANU] rests with the chancellor, Julie Bishop. She presided over this continued period of dysfunction, and it was under her watch that catastrophic failures occurred," Sheldon told The Australian Financial Review.
This one conversation worried me most. Me: Are you worried about the impact of all the negative publicity (course cancellations, mass staff sackings) on the reputation of UTS? Council member: No. It's all misinformation and disinformation. Poor Andrew Parfitt [the vice chancellor]. Me: Not sure what you mean. The university is ditching its education degree. Council member: That's not true. Reader, it is true, although UTS suggests it is still subject to consultation. Eye roll.
Dear Colleagues, Further to my email this morning I do want to acknowledge the psychosocial health impacts that have arisen from Renew ANU and to outline the immediate measures we are putting in place to address these. I have met this morning with the COO and colleagues from WHS to review the matters raised in the Provisional Improvement Notice that was escalated through the CASS Health and Safety Representative. I have also met with the corresponding HSR to listen again to his very serious and valid concerns and I thank him sincerely again for raising these matters so promptly. We had a very productive meeting and have agreed to several concrete remediations, including improved services, and steps forward that we intend to action together this afternoon. I have made clear to him my unconditional support for affected staff and my determination to relieve their distress as quickly as possible.
[CASS] Stop Work on Renew ANU Activities - CASS Dear Colleagues A Health and Safety Representative (HSR) has issued a Cease Work Order for work related to Renew ANU in CASS. The HSR has communicated to the University that Cease Work Order has been issued because they believe there are immediate risks to psychological health and safety. Effective immediately: • If your work, meeting or email is about Renew ANU, please stop that work immediately and continue with other business as usual tasks. • If you're unsure whether a task relates to Renew ANU, please check with your manager or WHS. This pause remains in place while the University seeks to further investigate and remediate the concerns communicated to us. I will keep you updated. If you're in distress, please seek support: EAP/Adviser to Staff, your GP, or crisis support (000 if there is immediate danger; Converge:1300 687 327; Lifeline 13 11 14; Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636). Thanks for putting safety first. I will write again later today with a more detailed update. Kind regards Professor Bronwyn Parry FRSA Dean, ANU College of Arts & Social Sciences
Jimmy Barnes, Genesis Owusu, Dave Faulkner from Hoodoo Gurus, The Church's Steve Kilbey, Frenzal Rhomb's Lindsay McDougall, The Voice Australia star Lucy Sugerman, Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers' Scarlett McKahey, classical pianist Simon Tedeschi, live music venue Gang Gang, and recording house Infidel Studios, are among the names who have joined the call to action.
CEASE WORK ORDER Issued under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth), Section 85 To: The Australian National University - College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS) Executive From: , Health and Safety Representative (HSR) Evidence gathered through staff reports and HSR investigation shows that the Renew ANU change process in CASS has resulted in serious and ongoing harm to staff health and safety. Staff have reported: • Fatigue • Low Job Control, Job Insecurity, and Poor Support • Poor Organisational Change Management and Organisational Justice • Aggression, Bullying, and Harassment