Coalition frontbencher Christopher Pyne has blamed the state government for the likely loss of a federal seat in South Australia.
SA is tipped to lose one of its 11 seats, based on the latest population statistics, with an announcement from the Australian Electoral Commission as early as Thursday.
Mr Pyne says that will be the result of the "ruthlessness of mathematics" but says it underlines the failure of the state government to create jobs and keep young people in SA.
"It's very disappointing. When I was first elected in 1993, South Australia had the same number of seats as Western Australia, we both had 13 seats," he told reporters on Wednesday.
"Western Australia now has 16 and we will have 10."
"We are in decline as a state, we are going backwards in terms of population share and the state Labor government seems to be entirely complacent about that."
But Premier Jay Weatherill said he was not about to chase population growth just to keep a seat in the federal parliament.
"I don't run a high population growth strategy," he said.
"I think we're going just fine here. We've got modest population growth which means we can run a harmonious, peaceful, well-integrated society.
"We have a policy of livability, of affordability, of having a peaceful and harmonious community. It's one of the great South Australian strengths."
The loss of a federal seat would result in a redistribution of current electoral boundaries across SA.
