Planning that maintains quality of life

Australia ranks well internationally across a range of quality-of-life measures, ranking second in 2020 in the Organisation for Economic Development (OECD) Better Life Index. The Index uses a multi-dimensional assessment of over 80 wellbeing factors (such as environmental quality and personal security) to assess whether the lives of citizens in OECD countries are improving.33

Despite this high ranking, Australia ranked below average in the Better Life Index against social inequality and work-life balance metrics.

In 2018, Australia ranked third in the United Nations Human Development Index, which includes standard of living measures. By 2020, it had fallen five places.34 This indicates that overall, quality of life for Australians has gone backwards compared to some other similar countries.

Australia's position is being threatened by a combination of stagnating wage growth and escalating living costs, particularly for housing and energy, on top of the visible impacts of congestion.

The rankings for all these tables are formed using relatively common criteria. They include health care, education, infrastructure, economy and Jobs, stability, crime, community, culture, environment and the cost of living. For Australia to retain a high ranking, governments will need to prioritise action in these areas.

Creating Fast-growing Cities that are highly attractive places to live in the face of accelerating change and complexity is increasingly challenging for governments. A key aspect of this attraction is the access to economic opportunity and amenity city residents enjoy, however infrastructure delivery and equity of access vary across different suburbs, with outer suburbs typically having less access.

Strategic plans for our Fast-growing Cities must start with place, then consider supporting mobility and transport solutions, not vice versa. The solutions must also align with the changing nature of these cities, especially demographics and how places are developing.