The New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian says she wants immigration to the state halved, warning her Government cannot keep up with the infrastructure demands.

Key points: Ms Berejiklian says NSW needs an immigration "breather"

Ms Berejiklian says NSW needs an immigration "breather" She claimed the number of people arriving in the state had doubled in 10 years

She claimed the number of people arriving in the state had doubled in 10 years In February, Labor leader Luke Foley lamented "white flight" from some western Sydney suburbs

Ms Berejiklian — the daughter of Armenian immigrants — said while NSW would always will be open to new immigrants, successive Federal Governments had lost control.

"I'm saying take a breather because the rates have gone through the roof," she said.

"Just under 10 years ago we were welcoming about 45,000 people.

"Two years ago we were welcoming 75,000 people. It's now 100,000 every single year."

Ms Berejiklian said NSW had "fantastic multiculturalism".

"I'm proud of it, I'm a product of it, I want it to continue," she said.

"But in terms of the numbers themselves, we do need to take a breather.

"We need to make sure we have a solid population policy in place which looks at where the population is growing and also looks at our capacity."

Population increase affecting infrastructure

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said some states wanted more immigrants, but that he sympathised with Sydney and Melbourne, where increasing populations were putting a strain on infrastructure.

"We want to work close which the state and territory governments on their population plans, and to make sure that our migration programs work in with those migration plans," he said.

"But, look, that doesn't give any state government a leave pass on dealing with the pressures of population."

Ms Berejiklian said her Government had been struggling to build the infrastructure to support the population increase, like schools and hospitals.

"I'm the Premier of the largest state in Australia and until this point, haven't had a say in population," she said.

Labor leader Luke Foley said Ms Berejilian's comments were a "thought-bubble from the Premier that you can't take seriously".

"Only a few months ago, the Premier said the current rate of immigration was about right," he said.

"The population of Sydney soared from 4 to 5 million during the life of this Government. They've been happy with that.

"This is a belated conversion from the Premier I think it says more about the political difficulties she's in after the last few weeks."

In February, Mr Foley said a reduction in the migrant intake number would give Sydney a chance to catch up on infrastructure, but he came under fire for comments he made about a "white flight" from some of Sydney's western suburbs.

"You have to say Australia's largest city Sydney is groaning under the weight of congestion," he said.