The slow decline in WA’s VOCID restrictions has seen Perth’s previously envied destination plummet on the global livability scale, but Prime Minister Mark McGowan has maintained his response to the pandemic.
The city was last year the sixth most livable place in the world.
But what goes up has to go down and this year Perth fell to number 32.
The Global Liveability Index, compiled by the Economic Intelligence Unit, looked at stability, health, culture, the environment, education and the infrastructure to find the best cities in the world.
Vienna in Austria was in the lead, followed by Copenhagen in Denmark. Zurich in Switzerland and Calgary in Canada tied for third place.
Earlier years ’rankings were largely driven by COVID, with blockages affecting culture, education and health scores, but the most recent survey showed that the index had returned to normal.
The survey found that the cities of Australia and New Zealand had suffered some of the largest declines in livability in the last 12 months, with reduced restrictions that increased livability scores in European countries. .
It’s no secret to the people of Perth that our city is the best place to live, work and raise a family.
The report stated that those below, and their neighbors on the other side, benefited in early 2021 when vaccines against VOCID were scarce, due to the closure of borders that kept infection rates.
However, that changed as the highly infectious Omicron infiltrated both countries late last year.
It meant that Australian and Kiwi cities no longer had a “COVID advantage” over well-vaccinated European and Canadian cities.
Despite the setback, Melbourne took its place in the top ten, earning the title of Australia’s most livable city.
Perth and Adelaide, meanwhile, were noted for being “slower in lifting restrictions” than other locations that were hurting their livability scores.
Camera icon Mark McGowan maintained his response to the pandemic. Credit: Justin Benson-Cooper / The West Australian
But McGowan told The West Australian that COVID’s “careful and considerate” management at all times, based on health advice, had directly resulted in some of the best economic, social and health outcomes in the world.
“What makes our state and our city so attractive is that, compared to other states, WA has the highest annual salary and the lowest average mortgage,” McGowan said.
“It’s no secret to the people of Perth that our city is the best place to live, work and raise a family.”
Perth Mayor Basil Zempilas also said the score was “just a point on the radar for Perth”.
Camera icon Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas. Credit: Kelsey Reid / The West Australian
“We all know how livable our city is,” Zempilas said.
“Affordable housing, employment opportunities and the climate and recreational facilities remain the best in Australia.”
Mr Zempilas said he was “very optimistic” that a return to normal conditions would put Perth back in the top ten in the next 12 months.
Camera icon Vienna, Austria, won the title of most livable city. Credit: Sylvain Sonnet / Getty Images
“But there is no doubt that working hard to improve our arts and culture offer is still a growth opportunity for Perth. That’s why attracting and facilitating events like the Van Gogh Alive and the Strange Festival, as well as the favorites such as the Perth Festival and Fringe is such an important goal for the city of Perth, ”he said.
The report also stated that the war in Ukraine and future variants of COVID could continue to affect scores in the future.
“Our basic assumption is that a new variant will cause a global wave of cases by the end of the year, but that it will not be more aggressive than Delta nor will it be resistant to current vaccines,” the report said.
List of the top ten:
1. Vienna, Austria
2. Copenhagen, Denmark
3. Zurich, Switzerland tied with Calgary, Canada
5. Vancouver, Canada
6. Geneva, Switzerland
7. Frankfurt Germany
8. Toronto, Canada
9. Amsterdam. Netherlands
10. Osaka, Japan and Melbourne, Australia