The Federal Government has missed a crucial opportunity to address Australia’s growing housing affordability and homelessness crisis in its Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO).
The Morrison Government has chosen to ignore housing affordability concerns, which are at their highest-ever level, and months of warnings about the impact of soaring house prices and rents across Australia.
Everybody’s Home national spokesperson Kate Colvin said it is disgraceful the Federal Government refuses to help end the crisis by investing in social and affordable housing.
“House prices and rents across the country continue to skyrocket and it’s clear a lack of supply of affordable housing is driving this growth,” Ms Colvin said.
“Young people are being locked out of the housing market and those on low and middle incomes are being pushed further behind in the race for home ownership.
“An increasing number of Australians are stuck in rentals that keep rising in price or are being forced into homelessness.
“Regional communities that have seen some of the steepest increases in rents are now unaffordable for essential workers, and are facing worker shortages alongside a growing homelessness crisis.
“Stable, affordable housing is essential for everyone, especially those who have suffered serious setbacks such as family violence, unemployment or ill health.
“When the Property Council is sounding the alarm on what it has described as a lack of action on a societal problem, then it is obvious the situation is dire.
“According to the latest ANZ/Property Council Survey, housing supply and affordability overtook cities and infrastructure as the most critical issue for the Federal Government.
“Yet the Federal Government has rejected calls to rectify repeated cuts to spending on social and Indigenous housing which has steadily declined over the past four years.
“The solution to Australia’s housing affordability catastrophe is frustratingly clear, build more social and affordable housing.”
