Golden State…for some of us
Western Australia is the richest State in the country and one of the most vibrant economies in the world right now. The Government’s recently announced $5.6 billion Budget surplus was the envy of the rest of the nation. Our unemployment rate is down to 4.6 per cent. The housing market is hitting record highs, and rental vacancies are below one per cent. Additionally, international exports rose by 20.5 per cent (in 2020-21), mostly due to the surge in iron ore prices.
And, because we’re hemmed in, segments of the retail and tourism markets are benefiting from increased local spending. Also, by some miracle — or more likely because of WA’s geographical isolation combined with fairly hefty border controls and regulations — we’ve managed to keep a significant COVID-19 virus outbreak at bay (at least for now). And, to top it all off we’re hosting the AFL grand final tonight for the first time. By all accounts, Western Australia is the golden State, and life here is pretty peachy.
But what are some other stories behind these stats?
Well, alarmingly, 10 per cent of the population, or around 240,000 people, including more than 44,000 children, continue to live in poverty. The waitlist for public housing has surged, and there are more than 30,000 people desperately trying to secure a home. Rent spikes are also driving high levels of household stress.
This is especially the case for low-income earners, single parents, and people living with chronic health conditions or disabilities that impact their ability to work, as well as carers. In the past year, people in the low and middle-income brackets have been pushed out of affordable housing. And the Australian Government’s pandemic wage subsidies that were life-changing for many (for some it meant they could finally afford a haircut) all came to an end earlier this year.
Because the population has swelled (with people returning home or fleeing the eastern states), some West Aussies have been forced to relocate to areas outside of Perth or bunker down with family or mates for the foreseeable future. And we’re also seeing labour shortages across health, construction, resources, hospitality, and agriculture industries.
Considering all of this, it’s pretty obvious that we live in a multi-speed economy — and, it would be delusional to think otherwise. Gains in one area (or for one state, company or person) always accompany losses in another. What’s actually happening (and in the middle of a pandemic) is that the rich are getting richer, and those who are struggling to make ends meet are experiencing mounting hardship.
Life sucks when you’re poor. But there is hope. If you feel like you’re in a pressure cooker that’s about to explode, there are many things you can do. First, remind yourself that you will find a way through your challenges (even if it doesn't feel like it at the moment). Then pick up the phone and ask a friend or professional for help. And finally, hatch your escape plan.
Getting some financial counselling might just be your get-out-of-jail card. The national debt helpline can put you in touch with free financial counselling services in your area. For many people the daily struggle is real. And, in truth, one person’s suffering or misfortune is a reflection of all of us, collectively.
So, let’s not let an overblown sense of pandemic “success” in WA take away from the fact that we still have a long way to go, especially before poverty, financial, education, and health inequality can truly become social afflictions of the past.
Lifeline: 13 14 11
National Debt Helpline: 1800 007 007
Consumer Credit Legal Service (WA): 08 9221 7066
This article was first published in The West Australian in Renée Gardiner’s weekly column in Agenda, 25 September 2021.