Premier Roger Cook is looking to encourage more industries to open and move up north, as WA’s run as the fastest-growing State extends into a third year.

Reacting to new ABS figures that show WA’s population increased by 2.3 per cent in the year to March — the greatest growth of any State or Territory — Mr Cook said the fact that 2.8 million of the state’s 3.03 million people lived in Perth was proving “challenging”.

He nominated Port Hedland, Karratha, Geraldton and Kalgoorlie as places he wants new West Australians to live, because not everyone could live in Perth.

“It’s not unsustainable, but it’s challenging,” Mr Cook this week told The West Australian.

“We need to make sure that we consolidate the housing densities inside Perth.

“But ultimately, we need people to realise the grea

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