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Why Greater Western Sydney Needs Its Fair Share in Economic Reform
Why Greater Western Sydney Needs Its Fair Share in Economic Reform
When the Federal Government called for input to the 2025 Economic Reform Roundtable, the Greater Western Sydney Advocacy Network (GWSAN) made sure our region’s voice was heard.
Our submission wasn’t about one single issue. It was about the big picture: Greater Western Sydney consistently misses out on its fair share of investment — in housing, transport, health, and education. Unless this structural imbalance is addressed, national reforms will leave millions of Australians behind.
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The Problem: An Unequal Playing Field
The Problem: An Unequal Playing Field
Greater Western Sydney is home to more than 2.6 million people — a population larger than Adelaide and Canberra combined. We are younger, more diverse, and growing faster than any other part of NSW.
And yet:
We receive less infrastructure funding per person than other parts of Sydney.
Our communities face higher housing stress and fewer affordable options.
Public health funding is below the state average on a per-capita basis.
Our residents endure the longest commute times in the country.
This isn’t about “wants” — it’s about fairness.
Our Key Messages to Government
Our Key Messages to Government
In our submission, we urged the government to:
Embed a Fair Share Principle in National Reform
Investment decisions must be based on population growth, need, and equity — not postcode privilege.
Prioritise Housing Affordability
National planning and taxation reform should support affordable housing delivery in fast-growing regions like ours.
Rebalance Transport Funding
Shift infrastructure spending toward outer metropolitan areas with high growth and poor connectivity.
Tackle Health Inequities
Guarantee equal per-capita health investment across Greater Sydney.
Invest in Prevention and Youth
Provide funding for programs that address long-term social costs — from youth disengagement to chronic health conditions.
Why This Matters for All Australians
Why This Matters for All Australians
Greater Western Sydney’s future is Australia’s future. If the region thrives, the nation’s economy gains. If we’re left behind, inequality widens and productivity suffers.
The government has a once-in-a-generation chance to correct these imbalances through systemic reform. And that starts with recognising that Greater Western Sydney deserves its fair share.
🔗 Related: The Fair Share Framework: A New Way to Fund Infrastructure
What’s Next
What’s Next
We’ll continue to push for these changes across our micro-campaigns in housing, transport, health, and youth empowerment.
Our full submission is available here:
What you can do
What you can do
Join the conversation: Share your views on our LinkedIn page.
Contact decision-makers: Send this article to your local councillor or MP to highlight community support for smarter housing options.
Stay informed: Sign up for our updates to get the latest on housing policy changes, community forums, and advocacy campaigns.
Join the Conversation
We’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic.
Continue the discussion on LinkedIn
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Join the team
GWSAN works across disciplines, sectors, and lived realities. We believe lasting change happens when community knowledge, academic insight, and policy influence are brought together with purpose and respect.
We collaborate with:
Community members and lived experience advocates, particularly young people, women, and culturally diverse residents who have firsthand knowledge of the barriers Western Sydney faces
Local councils and government agencies committed to planning reform, housing justice, and community wellbeing
Researchers and academic institutions working at the intersection of urban policy, health equity, and systems thinking
Community housing providers, health organisations, and frontline services who understand how policy failures show up in everyday lives
Urban planners, valuers, and infrastructure professionals who are ready to embed prevention and equity into how cities grow
Advocacy organisations and networks aligned with our values of justice, collaboration, and regional empowerment
Our approach is not to duplicate what others are doing, but to connect, amplify, and align. We look for partners who are ready to move beyond talk and help rewire the systems that shape housing, health, and opportunity in Greater Western Sydney.
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