Three weeks ago, Shelter NSW joined over 800 people in Western Sydney for the Sydney Alliance Assembly in the lead up to the federal election. This event was the result of several months of collective organising and negotiation with Australian Government ministers and other members of Parliament for a public conversation about housing and energy policy.  

Sydney Alliance Assembly attendees stand together at the end of the event in Westmead, Western Sydney.

Together, we highlighted the impact of the housing affordability and cost of living crisis on people living in lower incomes, who rent their home or who are otherwise disadvantaged. We put forward our policy proposals for the Commonwealth to do more so that people living on lower incomes have access to safe, healthy, and affordable housing.  

Shelter NSW was a central part of the Sydney Alliance policy development process that culminated in some of the Assembly asks: 

• A quadrupling of the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) to increase Commonwealth investment in new social and affordable housing to $1 billion per year 
• An immediate increase to Commonwealth Rental Assistance (CRA) payments followed by a review so that CRA contributes more efficiently to reducing housing stress for people living on lower incomes 
• Enabling measures for States and Territories to develop and implement mandatory energy efficiency standards for rental properties. 

Cassandra Ngurah, Shelter NSW volunteer and co-chair of the Assembly, spoke powerfully about the impact of rising rents and purchasing prices: 

“The housing crisis is worsening daily, hitting Western Sydney hardest. One in 10 Australians live in Western Sydney. We’re the backbone of this city – essential workers, young families – told that hard work would pay off. We’ve done our part, yet we’re being priced out of our communities. Western Sydney deserves a better go.” 

Cassandra Ngurah, Shelter NSW volunteer, addresses the Sydney Alliance Assembly on Thursday 13 March.

The whole Shelter NSW team and board of directors was impressed by Cassandra’s eloquence, how she spoke from the heart, and her commitment to better housing policy for the people of Western Sydney and beyond. We would like to publicly thank Cassandra for her support of Shelter NSW advocacy. 

While we did not get firm commitments for new money from decision makers on the night, the event was a great demonstration of the power of community organising, and a stark reminder for federal election candidates that people living on lower incomes and renters matter, and that there is a groundswell for climate justice and no one left behind in the energy transition. 

Three weeks later, a federal subsidy of $2.3 billion dollar to reduce the cost of purchasing batteries for households was announced. While we would prefer to see measures that are means-tested and easier to access for people who rent their home, this is a beneficial energy transition policy that will reduce energy bills, demand and supply surge pressures on generation and transmission infrastructure, and contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation. The Minister for Climate Change and Energy himself, Chris Bowen, acknowledged the role that the Sydney and Hunter Community Alliance played in securing federal support for energy transition measures that lower energy costs for households in a video message. 

Much more remains to do to work towards climate and housing justice. Shelter NSW will continue to work with grassroots organisers and other community organisations for minimum energy efficiency standards for rental properties, more upgrades and higher standards for social housing properties, and schemes that allow renters to benefit from modern, energy efficient technology.