Disparity grows between haves, have nots
By
Adam Smith
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17/10/2011 4:00:00 AM
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Wealthy households have seen a significant rise in their net worth while the poorest households have seen their wealth rise only modestly.
Recent ABS figures show the wealthiest 20% of Australian households have increased their average net worth by 15% since 2005-06. Meanwhile, the poorest 20% of households increased their net worth only 4% during the same period.
The disparity between the wealthiest and poorest households has grown, with wealthy households seeing an average net worth of $2.2m, while the average net worth of the poorest Australian households is only $32,000. The richest 20% of households hold around two-thirds of Australia's total household wealth, while the poorest 20% hold around 1%.
The main assets contributing to household wealth in Australia were owner-occupied homes, while mortgages on the homes were the main liability held by households. More than two-thirds of Australians own a home, either with or without a mortgage. One in five households also own a property other than their home, including holiday homes and rental properties.
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