New research shows that half of Green voters and a third of Coalition voters surveyed want the Federal Government’s housing reforms on build-to-rent and help-to-buy to pass the parliament. Community backed independents Senator David Pocock, Senator Jacqui Lambie, Member for Curtin Kate Chaney MP, Member for North Sydney Kylea Tink MP, Member for Kooyong Dr Monique Ryan MP and Member for Wentworth Allegra Spender MP are urging the parliament to listen to people and pass the bill with amendments.
Housing is the second biggest concern for Australians behind cost-of-living according to a YouGov survey of over 1,500 Australians commissioned by the Property Council . Nearly three in five people are renting because they have no other option. Increasingly, people are pessimistic about their chances of buying a home.
Government first home buyer grants are also increasingly inadequate to get people into home ownership with 37 per cent of respondents saying they qualify but for the support but still can’t afford to buy.
A whopping 79 per cent of respondents said there is a lack of affordable housing supply in their area.
A majority of Australians (61 per cent) support the joint proposal from CHIA, National Shelter and the Property Council on the build-to-rent legislation that would deliver 100,000 new rental properties with renter protections and a dedicated affordable housing component.
The peak bodies have had EY cost the proposed amendments to the build-to-rent bill finding it would cost the budget the equivalent of $980 per new build-to-rent home delivered per year over 10 years.
Senator Pocock said the parliament needs to work together in the same way industry has to deliver desperately needed new housing supply.
“Solving Australia’s housing crisis requires us all to work together to help deliver new supply,” Senator Pocock said.
“The Parliament needs to put politics to one side and listen to what people are saying they want when it comes to policies that will deliver more affordable housing.”
“There’s no silver bullet for housing - we need all the solutions and we need them now,” Ms Chaney said.
“The first Build to Rent project in Australia was opened in Subiaco in my electorate in 2019 and has been close to 100% capacity ever since. It has to be part of the solution - we need more homes. Politicians need to stop using policies like Build to Rent to score points and get on with it.”
“Australian Super funds are already investing millions in Rent-to-Buy schemes overseas but not in Australia,” Senator Lambie said.
“We've got two more weeks left this year to get this done. This polling backs up what Australians have been telling me - they are sick and tired of The Greens and The Coalition holding up action on housing for those Aussies who most need it."
“The housing crisis is three decades in the making”, Dr Ryan said.
“The major parties have repeatedly failed – at both a federal and state level – to plan for our housing needs. Young Australians fear they’ll never be able to buy a home of their own. Every policy lever needs to be pulled on housing - with strength and with urgency. Australia needs the Liberals, the Nationals and the Greens to stop blocking progress on housing.”
“Building more houses is the only long term solution to our housing crisis and Build to Rent is a part of that,” Ms Spender said.
“It’s time that the Greens and the Liberal National parties stopped blocking constructive housing policy. My community wants action not politics.”
“Decades of policy inertia and petty politicking by the major parties has exacerbated the housing crisis we now face. In North Sydney, young people in particular are unable to afford to stay in the area, while essential workers such as nurses and teachers are being priced out of owning or even renting a home,” Ms Tink said.
“Cheap political point scoring shouldn't get in the way of building more affordable housing. The Build to Rent scheme is a good start in recalibrating our housing market to ensure every Australian has access to affordable housing, and it should be part of the solution.”