Giving one in five Australians a voice in parliament is set to be a key election issue, especially across Western Australia's fastest growing communities according to leading experts.
Following years of underfunding, suburbs including Swan, Gosnells and Armadale are facing mounting economic, mental health and infrastructure issues. These will inform voters ahead of the coming Federal election, according to the National Growth Areas Alliance (NGAA).
"Locals in Western Australia's growth areas are living without adequate access to doctors, hospitals, schools and other social infrastructure, as well as access to local job opportunities," says Councillor Matthew Deeth, Chair of the NGAA, the leading voice advocating for the 5.2 million residents of Australia's outer metropolitan growth areas.
"These residents will be looking to the party that can best support them, when they go to the polls. That starts with the appointment of a Federal Minister for Growth Areas to deliver stronger planning that distributes infrastructure, jobs and housing more evenly across metropolitan areas," he adds.
A commitment to appointing a federal Minister for Growth Areas will be especially important to representatives in Western Australia's hotly contested growth areas of Armadale, Cockburn, Gosnells, Kwinana, Swan and Wanneroo and their current incumbents Dr Anne Aly, Stephen Irons, Ken Wyatt, Matt Keogh, Josh Wilson and Madeleine King.
Additionally, the appointment would support the increasing number of new suburbs that are changing the political landscape in Western Australia.
"Regions that have had increased infrastructure investment, have advanced through a raft of new local employment and economic development opportunities, which in turn have benefitted Western Australia as a whole. With population surges disproportionately impacting growth areas, there is more that can be done in these communities to ensure that they not only mature, but flourish," says Cr Carol Adams.
An analysis of over 80,000 interviews with growth area residents outlines the initial key priorities for a Minister of Growth areas as addressing a lag in social infrastructure, rising mental health concerns and a mounting economic crisis in Western Australia's growth areas.
The data shows that, following the pandemic, 43% of Western Australia's outer suburbs residents are struggling to pay at least one bill, particularly energy, groceries, rent and personal loans, leaving them in a 'financial survival mode'.
Residents in Western Australia's growth areas will be seeking a leader determined to boost local economies and provide greater local access to jobs. According to Cr Deeth, this is a key issue in lowering financial stress in these communities
"Outer suburban residents spend a substantial amount of their time commuting to CBDs due to a lack of local employment opportunities. This election, residents within these areas will be looking for this to change. Promises to utilise their highly skilled and growing workforces to create employment zones will be a key priority," he adds.
Western Australia's growth areas are also more likely to feel stressed 62%, frustrated 60% and anxious 53% than the national average. This demonstrates the urgent need for commitments that will reduce the growing stressors and mental health concerns in these areas.
"Throughout the pandemic, we have seen Australia's growth areas become the hardest hit, yet despite this less than half (46%) of these residents have accessed a form of mental health support over the past 12 months in comparison to the national average of 52%," says Cr Deeth. "These areas deserve fair access to critical services such as mental health support, and locals are now, more than ever seeking a Government that is ready to step up and fund these communities where they need it most.
"This gap has become an even greater concern as more Australians continue to move to the outskirts of Perth, distancing themselves from the city and taking advantage of the HomeBuilder grant. As a steady stream of new residents continue to pour into Western Australian growth areas, the pressure will be heightened on the already scarce vital infrastructure within these communities," adds Cr Deeth.
Addressing this issue will be a key consideration for voters and should not be overlooked ahead of the Federal Election. New findings from NGAA showcase that due to this recent rapid population growth, there is a sizable new voting cohort in each electorate, with untested voting behaviours. Of the 11 marginal growth area electorates, four are in Western Australia.
"Growth areas have long been overlooked by the Government, but as more of these suburbs appear in Western Australia, their influence on the state's future and voting outcomes will only increase, making a Minister for Growth Areas key to political success for all parties now and long term," concludes Cr Deeth.
