Fairfield the most disadvantaged suburb in Sydney: ‘We shouldn’t be treated differently’

FAIRFIELD has been named the most disadvantaged area in Sydney, according to damning statistics about unemployment, low income and low educational attainment.

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FAIRFIELD is the most disadvantaged area in Sydney, according to Fairfield City Council.

The information came to light during a recent submission to Liquor and Gaming NSW, where council pulled data from the national Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA).

Fairfield was the most disadvantaged region in Sydney, fifth disadvantaged in NSW and 52nd in Australia.

Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone said the federal and state governments were ignoring the needs of southwest Sydney’s suburbs.

“They’ve stopped the boats, put people on buses and brought 7000 people into our city without any investment,” Mr Carbone said.

“You’ve got 200,000 people in one of the largest council areas in southwest Sydney; they shouldn’t be treated any differently to those in the inner west or the city.”

In 2011 Fairfield had a SEIFA number of 854.

The number is calculated from attributes reflecting disadvantage such as low income, low educational attainment, high unemployment, and jobs in relatively unskilled occupations.

Fairfield is the most disadvantaged area in Sydney.

Five years on, Fairfield residents are still financially disadvantaged compared to average NSW and Australian residents. The 2016 Census revealed the average Fairfield family earns $1263 a week, compared to the NSW average of $1780.

“There’s no infrastructure or jobs being created in our city,” Mr Carbone said.

“We want to give people a brighter future; our unemployment is almost double that of NSW but there’s no investment in this area.”

Mr Carbone said governments had overlooked southwest Sydney as it pursued developments in cities like Parramatta.

“There’s a lot of investment in cities like Parramatta but that’s taken away funding from local areas,” Mr Carbone said.

In 2011, Fairfield’s most disadvantaged suburb was Villawood, with a SEIFA score of 763.

Cabramatta, Yennora, Canley Vale, Fairfield, Carramar and Cabramatta West were also among NSW’s top 100 most disadvantaged suburbs.