WA fuel crisis: West Aussies hit twice as hard due to highest rate of Perth families relying multiple vehicles

WA’s love affair with cars is only accelerating despite soaring fuel prices with new figures suggesting that here in the west we love our wheels and don’t like giving up the comfort for public transport. Analysis of the Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics figures and Census data – show West Aussies’ love of cars has escalated dramatically in recent years. The number of motor vehicles in WA has jumped 180,000 — or 7.5 per cent — to 2.62 million registered vehicles over the last two years. This was the largest growth of any jurisdiction in Australia and well above the national growth of 5.6 per cent in the same period. And one car simply isn’t enough for hundreds of thousands of families. Nearly 40 per cent of WA households, or 376,783 homes have two cars — higher than any other State. WA also has a near record of households with three or more vehicles, at 20.7 per cent, or just under 200,000 homes. Tasmania was the only State with a higher rate of households with three or more cars at 22.3 per cent — leaving both Tassie and WA well above the national average of 18 per cent. Quinns Rocks local, Shaun Holland, is among the West Aussies with a loaded home garage but he says ditching the driver’s seat isn’t an easy option. A mechanic by trade, he owns three vehicles, including a ute he calls his “reliable daily drive,” a prize Holden Torana he’s just finished building, and his pride and joy which would rival a museum, an SS Holden Commodore he says he’ll “never part with.” Cars, for Shaun, are more than transport: they’re his hobby, and livelihood rolled into one. But as petrol prices climb, even he’s feeling the pinch. “With two V8s, it’s like a double hit every time prices go up,” he said. “It’s hard to have cars as a hobby with what we’re paying at the moment.” While Shaun still relies on his ute for work, he’s begun taking public transport when it makes sense — a small adjustment in an increasingly expensive passion. His story rings familiar across the state - even the most devoted car lovers are feeling the cost crunch, but for many West Aussies, giving up their wheels still remains unthinkable. WA Liberal Senator Dean Smith said the state has long had a reluctance to ditch the car for public transport, and he wasn’t sure whether the increasing fuel costs would change that. “It’s a love born out of necessity because of our vast distances to travel and our rejection of public transport,” Senator Smith said. “West Australians have always loved the convenience of their cars. “Part of WA’s DNA is our attachment to our cars. “And that’s demonstrated by these statistics which show nearly 40 per cent of households have two cars.” Senator Smith believed that in no other State of territory would rising fuel costs, because of the war in Iran, be felt more. “There has been a massive population growth, meaning a much higher number of motorists in the west will now be affected at the bowser,” Senator Smith said. “It’s also a simple fact that Perth drivers generally have farther to travel. “Perth is now reportedly the longest city in the world, featuring a 150km urban sprawl stretching from Two Rocks to Dawesville.” In recent days, both WA Premier Roger Cook and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese have urged motorists to continue with holiday and travel plans — but urged them not to hoard fuel. They have both encouraged the public to consider using public transport, to save fuel. “Over coming weeks, if you can switch to catching the train or bus or tram to work, do so,” Mr Albanese told Australians in his address to the nation on Wednesday. Mr Cook told The Sunday Times this week he believed West Australians would heed the travel advice. “I am always confident that the people of Western Australia will do the right thing, but you have already seen people change their behaviours and habits,” Mr Cook said. “There has been a significant spike in people using public transport. “That, combined with people’s awareness of the fuel situation means that you have got a lot of people now adopting public transport as their usual means of transport.”