SENATOR DEAN SMITH
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE SHADOW TREASURER
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR THE COST OF LIVING
LIBERAL SENATOR FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA
4 March 2026
AUSTRALIAN SUBURBS WORST AFFECTED BY LABOR’S MORTGAGE PAIN REVEALED
New analysis has identified the top twenty suburbs across Australia most likely to be impacted by the Albanese Government’s inflation crisis.
The analysis of the most recent ABS Census data*, commissioned by Senator Dean Smith from the Federal Parliamentary Library, identifies those suburbs with the highest concentration of mortgages.
Strathnairn in the ACT topped the list, with 85.4 percent of homes owned with a mortgage.
It was followed by the ACT’s Denman Prospect (78.2 percent); Brabham-Henley Brook in Perth’s north-east (75 percent); Clyde North-South in Melbourne’s south-east (73.8 percent); Piara Waters-Forrestdale in Perth’s south-east (72.7 percent), Googong in NSW (71.6 percent); and Flagstone West-New Beith outside of Brisbane (70.8 percent); Eynesbury-Exford near Melbourne (70.2 percent); and the suburbs of Taylor (70.0 percent), Throsby (69.4 percent), and Moncreiff (68.8 percent) in the ACT.
Completing the list were Marsden Park-Shanes in western Sydney and Fraser Rise-Plumpton in Melbourn (both 68.6 percent); Byford, south-east of Perth (68.4 percent); Landsdale in Perth’s north-west (68.1 percent); Mickleham-Yuroke outside Melbourne (67.7 percent); Harrisdale in WA (67.2); Box Hill-Nelson northwest of Sydney (67.1 percent), Aveley in Perth’s north-east (67.0 percent); and – at number 20 – Carramar in Perth’s north-west (66 percent).
It is worth noting that, with the exception of one suburb in Brisbane, every location on the list sits within a Labor-held seat.
This includes three suburbs in the WA electorate of Burt, three in Fenner in the ACT, two suburbs in both WA’s Hasluck and the ACT’s Canberra, and one suburb each in the electorates of Holt, Eden-Monaro, Hawke, Chifley, Gorton, Cowan, Calwell, Greenway, and Pearce.
Using the same Census data, the analysis tracks changes in mortgage repayments between August 2021 and February 2026, a period almost entirely under Labor Government.
In Strathnairn for example, median monthly mortgage repayments increased by $848 between August 2021 and January 2026 to $3,039.
Following the recent interest rate rise in February 2026, repayments rose by a further $84 – or $1,008 per year.
The Reserve Bank of Australia has reinforced the link between Government spending and inflation, warning that further rate rises will be necessary unless inflationary pressures ease.
Several leading economists have predicted up to four rate rises in 2026.
The Census Data analysis also projects what mortgage repayments would look like if this occurred – a further three rate increases of 25 basis points each.
That would take median monthly repayments in Strathairn to $3,383 by January 2027, up a massive $1,192 from August 2021.
Because the Census baseline is from August 2021, the number of households affected today is likely significantly higher, reflecting strong population growth and new housing construction across metropolitan growth corridors.
This pressure is compounded by the fact Australians are carrying larger mortgages than ever before.
Recent ABS Lending Indicators data shows the average home loan increased by $42,000 in the December quarter to $736,000, reflecting the continued surge in house prices.
Comments attributable to Senator Dean Smith:
“This data analysis confirms two things: The massive increase in mortgage repayments Australians are shouldering under the Albanese Government and the fact that those who are worst impacted are the same people Labor was elected to represent.”
“Cost of living issues will dominate the next Federal Election and Labor’s out of control spending and the inflation it is fuelling is hurting its own constituents.”
“And the pain may continue through 2026, with the Reserve Bank making clear it will have no choice but to increase interest rates further if inflationary pressures do not ease.