Media duration: 32minutesmins
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Perth has been ranked among the world's top 20 most liveable cities, but according to urban planner Cam Leckie and Alix Oakes, RAC's Manager, Transport, Planning and Policy, staying competitive means looking beyond sunshine, beaches and lifestyle alone.
In this episode of Horizons, Cam, also WA President of the Planning Institute of Australia, and Alix unpack what liveability actually means and why some cities consistently rank among the world's best. Their discussion explores everything from housing density and public transport to tree canopy, walkable neighbourhoods and the role culture plays in creating vibrant communities.
While Perth's relaxed lifestyle remains one of its biggest drawcards, both guests argue there is still room for improvement. They explore the challenges created by the city's sprawling footprint, the need for better transport connections between suburbs, and why creating more active local centres could help residents spend less time behind the wheel and more time connected to their communities.
The conversation also delves into what Perth can learn from cities such as Copenhagen and Tokyo, why tree canopy is increasingly important in a warming climate, and how making better use of natural assets, including the Swan River, could enhance everyday life.
Whether Perth should be chasing a first-place ranking is up for debate, but Cam and Alix agree on one thing: the goal should be creating a city that works better for the people who already call it home.
Watch or listen to the full episode on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
(0:00) Perth's liveability and what it takes to climb the rankings
(1:17) Perth ranked 20th on Monocle's 2026 Quality of Life Survey
(1:54) What the Monocle list actually measures
(4:00) Perth vs Copenhagen
(6:27) Policy priorities
(7:50) Connecting Perth to its waterways
(10:41) The Monocle criteria up close
(13:33) Perth's identity. Free beaches, and what makes the city unique
(16:23) Equity in liveability: well-served suburbs vs. newer areas left behind
(17:43) Public transport gaps: cross-city connections and the chicken-and-egg problem
(22:37) What's holding Perth back
(26:36) Perth on the world stage. Selling the city, Fremantle's lessons, and the road to the top 10
