NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian believes states should have greater say on where federal infrastructure funding is spent so funds better align with state priorities and population needs.
The state's growing population has meant the government has been working "overtime" to make sure infrastructure and services keep up, Gladys Berejiklian says.
The premier will take the issue to Prime Minister Scott Morrison and other state leaders on Wednesday at the Council of Australian Governments in Adelaide, where population and migration policies will be front and centre.
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COAG agenda covers a range of issues
AAP understands Ms Berejiklian will argue that states need to have complete discretion on federal infrastructure spending so funds match the service and infrastructure needs of the population.
"For far too long, NSW has been burdened with ballooning population growth without us being properly consulted on the targets, where people will live and what services and infrastructure growing communities will need," Ms Berejiklian said in a statement ahead of the meeting.
"NSW has the largest infrastructure pipeline in the nation but we are still playing catch up and I want us to be ahead of the game."
It's believed the premier will suggest Australia should look to Canada's migration system where provinces have a much stronger role in determining the levels of migration to their region.
She'll also call for states and territories to have a better say in the permanent and temporary skilled migration intake and will suggest incentives for international students to be placed in regional universities, AAP understands.
The premier earlier in the year called to halve NSW's overseas migrant intake to around 45,000 a year, as seen during the Howard-era, until a proper population policy is in place.
