But the latest figures show there has been a big change in how Aussies move around the country and who is moving in.

The Bureau of Statistics figures show Victoria, traditionally a big loser, has turned things around with 67,424 new residents from interstate compared to 66,726 people leaving.

In total almost 20,000 more people have left NSW than have arrived from other states.

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While Queensland had 98,182 new interstate arrivals compared to 79,794 leaving.

Western Australia has enjoyed growth driven by the mining boom while Tasmania is holding its own with positive immigration of almost 700.

South Australia is losing more than 4500 people a year.

Professor Bob Stimson, an economic geographer at the University of Queensland, said forget lifestyle and climate, migration is about jobs.

He said that is why people are leaving NSW.

"Sydney's been losing for quite a long time," he said.

"Sydney's been performing pretty badly in terms of what we call endogenous employment growth."

The closest thing to interstate migration for Kiwis is coming to Australia with about 400,000 living here.

The bulk of Kiwis who do fly end up on the Gold Coast.

Steve Sloan has started the klubkiwi.com to help ex-pats settle in.

"There's better opportunities here, lifestyle's fantastic," he said.

South Africans are also making the move with Veronique Menezes setting up a sa2brisbane consultancy, helping her countrymen settle in after a big, often traumatic move.

She says we can expect more.

"We do expect more South Africans to make the move after the 2010 World Cup," she said.

Related links

klubkiwi.com