Perth unprepared as population surge arrives a decade sooner, summit warns

Perth has known for more than a decade its population would surge toward 3.5 million by 2050, but experts warn growth is arriving sooner than expected – and we are unprepared for the housing, infrastructure and climate pressures ahead.

Business and industry leaders gathered at Crown on Wednesday for the Committee for Perth’s 2050 Summit, which aimed to “champion a plan for Perth’s future”.

Energy and Decarbonisation Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson was the keynote speaker. Credit: Committee for Perth

The population milestone was first set out in the Committee for Perth’s 2012 Towards a Bright Future report, but University of Western Australia demographer Professor Amanda Davies told the audience on Wednesday that the city could now hit that figure by 2039.

“This is a very plausible scenario, considering the pipeline projects that we have locked in, and the push factors driving migration,” Davies said.

She said the population trajectory would “rapidly bring forward the demand for much more housing in the greater Perth region”, adding that WA’s ageing population placed a further strain on health and aged-care systems.

Organisational behaviour expert and Curtin University Professor Sharon Parker.

Aged care service Hall & Prior’s chief executive Graeme Prior echoed Davies’ sentiment, telling attendees the state was unprepared for the scale of ageing ahead.

“One in five Western Australians will be over the age of 65 (by 2050),” he said.

He called for greater investment in aged-care workforce planning and home-based care to prevent the system being overwhelmed.

Meanwhile, in her keynote address, Energy and Decarbonisation Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson urged residents to “let go of the not-in-my-backyard (NIMBY) mindset” to deliver the clean-energy, housing and transport projects needed in coming decades.

“Cities don’t change by chance, they change by choice.”

International urban strategist Ludo Campbell-Reid

As a Government, we need new laws and regulations that can fast-track renewable energy projects,” she said.

“Government also doesn’t have all the answers. We rely on you,” she said, calling on industry, communities and young people to help drive long-term decisions.

Decarbonisation working group chair Julie McKay-Warner said Perth did not have a “climate transition plan” needed to prepare for climate change.

“Adelaide has one. Melbourne has one. Sydney has one. Perth needs one,” McKay-Warner said, warning population growth would magnify the cost and difficulty of every delayed climate decision.

Committee for Perth CEO Paula Rogers.Credit: Committee for Perth

Artificial intelligence emerged as another preparedness risk.

Speaking to this masthead on the sidelines, organisational behaviour expert Professor Sharon Parker said WA was “about five out of 10” ready for AI’s impact on jobs and productivity.

“About 95 per cent of AI applications deliver no real benefit,” Parker said.

“There’s too much focus on the technology alone as the solution, and not enough on redesigning work. If AI doesn’t make work better for people, it will fail.”

Meanwhile, Perth Youth Parliament member Diya Makwana challenged political and industry leaders to stop sidelining young people from decisions that will shape the next three decades.

“We are the present, not the future,” she said.

“Don’t give us token roles. Give us a seat at the table.”

International urban strategist Ludo Campbell-Reid said Perth had a “golden moment” to become one of the world’s most liveable small cities, but warned the window for action was narrowing.

“Cities don’t change by chance,” he said. “They change by choice.”

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