TJ Ryan Foundation Research Associate, John Quiggin, writes in The Conversation (12.1.22) about federal Labor’s plan for a dedicated social housing ‘future fund’, which the author suggests makes financial sense despite some shortcomings.
‘The centrepiece of Labor’s election program so far is its A$10 billion social housing policy, officially called the Housing Australia Future Fund.’… Although needed, it’s far short of the 100,000 extra social housing units we would have had if social housing had been growing in line with total housing in recent years, a gap that is climbing by 4,000 homes a year.
‘And, like the frilled-neck lizard, the $10 billion looks much bigger than it is. Labor could probably do what it has promised to do for $450 million per year.
‘Instead, it says it would borrow $10 billion at low interest rates, invest the money for much higher returns, and use the proceeds to pay for the program.’
- Labor’s proposed $10 billion social housing fund isn’t big as it seems, but it could work »
- Anthony Albanese pledges $10bn social housing fund in Labor’s federal budget reply »
- Australia needs social housing future fund to combat crisis affecting low-income families, Grattan Institute says »
- Thinking big helped Australia solve a housing crisis in the 1940s. We can do it again »
- Who really wins and loses from first homebuyer schemes? What you need to know as a buyer, owner or renter »
- Australia’s social housing system is critically stressed. Many eligible applicants simply give up »
- Without meaningful national housing strategies, first-home buyer schemes will only increase owners’ wealth »
- Can we solve Australia’s housing crisis? Ambitious plan launched to eradicate rental stress and lower homeless rate »
- Australia has been crying out for a national housing plan, and new council is a big step towards having one »
- The market has failed to give Australians affordable housing, so don’t expect it to solve the crisis »
- Homeless numbers have jumped since COVID housing efforts ended – and the problem is spreading beyond the big cities »
- Albanese government tackles housing crisis on 3 fronts, but there’s still more to do »
- House prices: Federal government too slow to move »
- Innovations in stock matching and allocations: the social housing challenge »
- Labor social housing bill not enough to address older women homelessness spike, advocates say »
- Tiny houses and alternative homes are gaining councils’ approval as they wrestle with the housing crisis »
- Australia’s renters face ‘staggering’ increases – with more to come »
- Unstable housing has held me back all my life – Australia needs a genuine safety net
- What is Labor’s $10bn social housing fund and will it be torn down by parliament?
- Flawed foundations
- Two cheers for the HAFF
National Cabinet’s new housing plan could fix our rental crisis and save renters billions
Brendan Coates and Joey Maloney write in The Conversation (17.8.23) about plans announced at a meeting of National Cabinet which could alleviate housing and renting pressures for many Australians.
‘Wednesday’s National Cabinet meeting set itself a huge task: to fix Australia’s rental crisis. Thankfully, given rents are rising at their fastest rate in decades, the plan it produced just might do the trick.
‘Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says it’s the most significant housing reform in a generation. If the states and territories deliver on their commitments, this might become one of the rare occasions when such lofty rhetoric is justified.
‘The plan has two key objectives: to remove constraints to building more homes in established suburbs; and to give renters more rights. As Grattan Institute has long argued, each is crucial.
‘… For its part, the Commonwealth will have to do all it can to ensure Australia gets the skilled workers that will be needed to build these extra houses, including by streamlining pathways to skilled migration.
‘Ultimately, the only thing that will really help is more about supply. Because when housing is plentiful, it’s more affordable.’
- National Cabinet’s new housing plan could fix our rental crisis and save renters billions
- Housing plan will save renters $32 billion over a decade: Grattan
- How will the federal government’s Help to Buy scheme work for people struggling to buy a house?
- Greens vow to sink federal government’s $10b housing fund, threatening first major defeat for Albanese
- Haves and have-nots: New housing plan would team investors with home-buyers
- The perfect versus the good
- Federal government concedes key housing demand in bid to secure Senate crossbench support, but Greens remain opposed
- To deliver enough affordable housing and end homelessness, what must a national strategy do?
- Labor has boosted its housing package but will it be enough to win over the Greens?
- Greens renew push for rent freeze as housing bodies say ‘time is of the essence’ to pass Labor bill
- Government’s housing fund legislation delayed by Greens-Coalition alliance
- Rent freezes and rent caps will only worsen, not solve Australia’s rental crisis
- Greens decry property tax breaks costing 78 times what Labor proposes to spend on social housing
- Albanese goes back to the future for housing reform
- 4 ways to bring down rent and build homes faster than Labor’s $10 billion housing fund
- Green light: After months of haggling, deal finally struck on national housing scheme
- Government provides another $1 billion to finally win Greens’ support for long-delayed housing bill
- Housing Australia Future Fund set to pass parliament after deal with Greens
- Labor’s $10b housing fund secure after $1b Greens deal
- The Greens were right to agree to pass Australia’s Housing Future Fund bill – the case for further delay was weak