FACTBase Bulletin 37 - Spatial inequality across Perth and Peel: stabilising post-GFC

This FACTBase Bulletin explores spatial income inequality across Perth in the years leading up to and following the GFC. Annual personal income data is used to create an index of spatial inequality for each of Australia’s capital cities.

Key Findings

• Income inequality in Perth and Peel in 2012 is 0.06 points higher than in 2005. While it has risen, it is still lower than the 0.09 points recorded between the years of 2000 and 2007.
• In 2012, the difference between rich and poor appeared to be closing. Overall, most SLAs in the Perth and Peel region had increased median incomes.
• Armadale, Kwinana, Bassendean, Gosnells and Wanneroo-South remained in the lowest income bracket (under $65,000) where the western suburb SLAs of Cambridge, Claremont, Mosman Park, Nedlands and Subiaco joined the top income bracket (over $100,000).
• In comparison to other Australian cities, Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide have had moderate income inequality, with Sydney and Melbourne being the most unequal cities.