PERTH FAMILIES HIT BY NATION’S SHARPEST HOUSING COST SURGE
SENATOR DEAN SMITH SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE SHADOW TREASURER SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR THE COST OF LIVING LIBERAL SENATOR FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA 31 July 2026 PERTH FAMILIES HIT BY NATION’S SHARPEST HOUSING COST SURGE The latest Consumer Price Index data shows Western Australians have been hit by some of the largest increases in housing, rent and essential household costs anywhere in Australia since the Albanese Labor Government came to office. An analysis by the Parliamentary Library of Australian Bureau of Statistics CPI figures comparing March 2022 with June 2026 commissioned by WA Liberal Senator Dean Smith shows Perth’s overall cost of living increased by 18.9 per cent – slightly above the national increase of 18.6 per cent. The most significant cost pressures have been in housing, with Perth recording a 32.7 per cent increase – the equal-highest increase of any Australian capital and more than five percentage points above the national increase of 27.5 per cent. The cost of buying a new home for owner-occupiers in Perth increased by a staggering 47.9 per cent. This was the largest increase recorded by any capital city and more than 20 percentage points above the national increase of 27.6 per cent. Perth tenants have also experienced the sharpest increase in rental costs of any Australian capital. Rents in Perth rose by 38.5 per cent compared with a national increase of 25.3 per cent, meaning Western Australian renters faced increases more than 13 percentage points above the national average. The pressure extends well beyond housing. Fruit prices in Perth climbed by 39.3 per cent – the largest increase of any capital city and more than eight percentage points above the national figure. Across the broader fruit and vegetables category, prices in Perth increased by 27.2 per cent, once again the highest rise among the capitals and 8.5 percentage points higher than the national increase. Western Australian families have also faced increases of: 50.1 per cent for tobacco; 42.1 per cent for insurance; 35.2 per cent for postal services; 32.8 per cent for eggs; 28.8 per cent for milk; 28.4 per cent for bread; 26.1 per cent for motor vehicle maintenance and repairs; and 21.8 per cent for preschool and primary education. Comments attributed to Senator Dean Smith: “The figures demonstrate that Western Australians are paying substantially more for many of the unavoidable costs of daily life, including shelter, groceries, insurance, education and maintaining a family vehicle.” “Western Australian families do not need to be told the cost of living has increased – they see it every time they pay the rent, visit the supermarket or open an insurance renewal.” “Under the Albanese Labor Government, Perth housing costs have risen by almost 33 per cent, new dwelling costs by nearly 48 per cent and rents by more than 38 per cent.” “Perth has recorded the largest rent increase of any capital city, with rents rising more than 13 percentage points faster than the national average.” “These are not discretionary expenses that families can simply avoid – they are the basic costs of keeping a roof over their heads, feeding their children and getting to work.” “Labor promised Australians cheaper living costs, but Western Australians are instead paying more for housing, food, insurance, education and essential services.” “Western Australia needs a government that will bring spending under control, reduce inflationary pressure, support new housing supply and allow working families to keep more of what they earn.” ENDS Parliamentary Library research on ABS CPI index by capital city March 2022 to June 2026 Capital City % Change March 2022-June 2026 March 2022 June 2026 Perth 18.9 85.95 102.16 Brisbane 19.3 85.38 101.89 Adelaide 20.7 84.91 102.45 Sydney 19.1 85.91 102.28 Hobart 17.0 87.44 102.17 Melbourne 17.4 86.63 101.66 Canberra 16.6 87.46 101.96 Darwin 16.5 87.66 102.17 Australia 18.6 86.05 102.17 Parliamentary Library research on ABS CPI data March 2022 to June 2026 – revealing where Perth recorded the fastest increase of any capital city and the national average in these expenditure items. ITEM Perth Increase Next Highest Capital Australia Increase New Dwelling purchase by owner- occupants 47.9 Adelaide 41.7 27.7 Rents 38.5 Brisbane 30.7 25.3 Housing 32.7 Adelaide 32.7 27.5 Fruit 39.3 Darwin 34.9 31.0 Fruit and Vegetables 27.2 Adelaide 22.4 18.7 Parliamentary Library research on ABS CPI index data March 2022 to June 2026 recording Perth increases against national average by expenditure items. ITEM Perth Increase Australia Increase Bread 28.4 27.9 Vegetables 17.1 10.1 Beef and veal 13.2 13.1 Pork 13.7 13.7 Lamb and goat 12.6 12.3 Poultry 14.3 13.3 Wine 5.3 4.6 Tobacco 50.1 47.5 Garments for infants and children 11.6 7.0 Footwear for infants and children 7.0 3.1 Furnishings, household equipment and services 9.5 8.9 Furniture 7.6 4.9 Childcare 7.8 5.9 Postal Services 35.2 35.2 Holiday travel and accommodation 20.2 18.3 Preschool and primary education 21.8 13.6 Motor vehicles 7.5 6.1