5 years ago
INDUSTRY NATIONAL HOUSING PLAN HIGLIGHTS COALITION INACTION
SENATOR THE HON DOUG CAMERON
Today’s launch of the Community Housing Industry Association’s national housing affordability plan highlights how little the Coalition has achieved on affordable housing.
Labor welcomes CHIA’s plan and has already committed to a number of recommendations including the appointment of a federal housing minister and development of a long-term housing strategy if elected.
Addressing today’s launch, Opposition leader Bill Shorten reiterated Labor’s intention to level the playing field for first homebuyers through a range of policies including changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions.
Mr Shorten told today’s launch that Labor does not see social and affordable housing as a welfare measure, rather a driver of investment, productivity and job creation.
Shadow Housing and Homelessness Minister, Doug Cameron, said only a Shorten Labor government will address the housing and homelessness crisis created by the Liberals policy vacuum and inaction.
“The previous Labor government invested $5.6 billion in social housing that delivered about 20,000 new homes, funded repairs and maintenance to 80,000 homes and supported 90,000 jobs through the global financial crisis,” Senator Cameron said.
“We also provided $6 billion to the states and territories for affordable housing and established the National Rental Affordability Scheme which provided 30,000 new affordable rental housing units.”
Senator Cameron said Labor’s affordable housing strategy will acknowledge the important role that the federal government can play along with the states, territories, local government and the private sector.
“The finance sector, banks and particularly the industry super sector all have an important role to play,” he said.
“Building and funding affordable and community housing isn’t a welfare measure, it’s a critical economic and infrastructure issue that will reduce inequality and increase employment opportunities.
“It is also the socially responsible thing to do because the more unaffordable housing is, the more likely those at the bottom of the market fall into housing stress and homelessness.
“The failure of the Coalition to treat housing and homelessness as an important issue is widening intergenerational inequality. Only a Labor understands the importance of ensuring all Australians have access to stable to long term housing.”
Labor welcomes CHIA’s plan and has already committed to a number of recommendations including the appointment of a federal housing minister and development of a long-term housing strategy if elected.
Addressing today’s launch, Opposition leader Bill Shorten reiterated Labor’s intention to level the playing field for first homebuyers through a range of policies including changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions.
Mr Shorten told today’s launch that Labor does not see social and affordable housing as a welfare measure, rather a driver of investment, productivity and job creation.
Shadow Housing and Homelessness Minister, Doug Cameron, said only a Shorten Labor government will address the housing and homelessness crisis created by the Liberals policy vacuum and inaction.
“The previous Labor government invested $5.6 billion in social housing that delivered about 20,000 new homes, funded repairs and maintenance to 80,000 homes and supported 90,000 jobs through the global financial crisis,” Senator Cameron said.
“We also provided $6 billion to the states and territories for affordable housing and established the National Rental Affordability Scheme which provided 30,000 new affordable rental housing units.”
Senator Cameron said Labor’s affordable housing strategy will acknowledge the important role that the federal government can play along with the states, territories, local government and the private sector.
“The finance sector, banks and particularly the industry super sector all have an important role to play,” he said.
“Building and funding affordable and community housing isn’t a welfare measure, it’s a critical economic and infrastructure issue that will reduce inequality and increase employment opportunities.
“It is also the socially responsible thing to do because the more unaffordable housing is, the more likely those at the bottom of the market fall into housing stress and homelessness.
“The failure of the Coalition to treat housing and homelessness as an important issue is widening intergenerational inequality. Only a Labor understands the importance of ensuring all Australians have access to stable to long term housing.”