The Federal Government has released a major report ranking the performance of Australia’s 22 largest cities against a suite of metrics.  

The National Cities Performance Framework compares cities across a number of key measures: jobs and skills, infrastructure and investment, liveability and sustainability, innovation and digital opportunities, governance, planning and regulation, and housing.

The government says the report and associated online dashboard, which features detailed comparisons of cities, provides data to help all levels of government, industry and the community make the best policy and investment decisions for Australia’s future, including the government’s City Deals. 

Assistant Minister for Cities and Digital Transformation Angus Taylor said understanding the diverse make-up of Australia’s largest metropolitan and regional cities makes it possible to tailor local solutions.

“Congestion and affordability can be critical in capital and major cities with strong growth. In contrast, many regional cities perform well across measures of liveability but can suffer from more limited local employment opportunities,” he said.

“Australia’s most valuable resource is our human capital. Our people – their ideas, skills, experience and enterprise – are the driving force of productivity growth and our future prosperity.

“Great cities attract, retain and develop talent – our bright minds and businesses – facilitating job creation and supporting growth. Increasingly our cities compete on a global stage, and the liveability of a city can be the determining factor in a city’s success.”

Dashboard highlights

Jobs accessible by car within 30 minutes

Best: Wollongong, Launceston, Bendigo, Albury-Wodonga, Cairns, Ballarat, Mackay (all 100%)
Worst: Sydney (58.2), Melbourne (60.2) and Brisbane (65.3)

Local governments per 100k people

Highest: Launceston (3.4)
Lowest: Canberra (0.26)

Housing affordability

Best: Mackay, Townsville, Darwin
Worst: Sunshine Coast, Sydney, Wollongong

Life expectancy at birth

Highest: Melbourne and Sydney (83.7) Perth (83.4)
Lowest: Albury-Wodonga (80.8), Launceston and Cairns (80.9)

Dwellings with access to greenspace

Highest: Canberra (99%), Wollongong (93.5%), Newcastle (90.2%)
Lowest: Toowoomba (66.3%), Ballarat (69%), Sunshine Coast (70.2%)

Workers in knowledge-intensive services

Highest: Sydney (21.1%), Melbourne (16.%), Canberra (15.4%)
Lowest: Albury-Wodonga (5%), Mackay (5.5%), Toowoomba (7.4%)

The report is available here. The online dashboard is available here.