Despite both working full-time, Zoe Clarke and her husband Jake say they cannot afford to start a family or buy a home, even while living in Australia’s wealthiest state. The couple currently share a rental property in Ellenbrook, a suburb in eastern Perth, with Zoe’s brother, who also works full-time and contributes to the rent.
“We’re in our early 30s, struggling to pay rent, and we don’t qualify for certain government support like rent assistance because we earn too much according to federal thresholds,” Zoe explained.
She posed her concerns to the WA government, which is due to release its first budget since being re-elected in March. While much of the budget will focus on fulfilling election promises, many West Australians continue to face intense financial pressures related to housing and the rising cost of living.
“We want to get out of this rent trap and enter the housing market,” Zoe said. “We’re not spending on luxuries; we’re sacrificing things like dining out, and we can’t even afford basic groceries like steak from the supermarket.”
Affordable housing commitments announced
The government has made some pre-budget announcements aimed at improving housing affordability. These include low-deposit loans for modular homes, a $210 million shared equity scheme, and a $12.3 million package to attract interstate and overseas tradespeople to help boost housing supply.
Although Zoe welcomed any help that could make homeownership possible, she raised questions about the feasibility of modular homes — where they would be located, council approvals, and final pricing. The shared equity scheme would allow the government to take up to a 35% share in a property, capped at $250,000, meaning the highest property price she could afford would be around $715,000. However, with Perth’s average home price now exceeding $870,000, this still seems out of reach.
The budget will also include rebates for home battery systems: $1,300 for Synergy customers and $3,800 for Horizon Power customers, with means-tested no-interest loans of up to $10,000 available. But such programs offer little relief for renters like Zoe and others waiting years for access to community or social housing.
Looking for broader cost-of-living relief
Zoe praised previous state initiatives like capped public transport fares and electricity bill rebates, which have offered significant relief. She hopes similar measures will continue and possibly expand to include other utilities and groceries.
However, Treasurer Rita Saffioti has hinted that more targeted assistance may be preferred, mentioning upcoming initiatives like the student assistance payment and federal energy relief payments.
Premier Roger Cook emphasized that the budget was developed amid global uncertainty, with a focus on maintaining a strong economy, resilient supply chains, and job growth in WA.
Rising living costs delaying families
Zoe’s situation reflects a growing trend across Australia. A 2024 government report noted that fertility rates have been declining for decades, with many people delaying parenthood or forgoing it entirely due to financial pressures.
Although Zoe and Jake had hoped to have children, the financial strain forced them to decide against it. “Our parents want grandkids, but we’ve had to say no, which is heartbreaking,” she said. “We’re just getting by now. A baby would make it even harder.”
Zoe is calling on the government to offer more support for singles, childless couples, and renters like her: “There are many people in our situation. We’re done with just surviving — it’s time we get to actually live.”
