Shelter NSW welcomes the newly re-elected Australian Government and the clear decision handed by the Australian people. Housing was high on the agenda during the election campaign with both major parties, the Greens, and many independents putting forward policy proposals to address the housing crisis. The Shelter network has been calling for policies underpinned by housing as a human right and promoting housing as a home, not an investment vehicle. We cautioned against policies adding fuel to the speculative fire, upper middle-class welfare, and the unabated tendency to see property ownership as the superior means to housing oneself.
In our view, the federal election has delivered a strong mandate to Prime Minister Albanese for decisive action to fix our housing system. And the likely composition of the Senate should ensure it plays its crucial role as a house of review. We continue to call for action focused on those who need it the most; people on lower incomes living in inadequate housing and/or housing stress, and people experiencing homelessness.
First, we need a strong and enduring framework: a legislated National Housing Strategy with a clear action plan that must be reported on in Parliament by a senior Minister. Second, we must continue and increase Commonwealth and State investment in a long term, at scale supply pipeline of social and affordable housing. Transforming private rental housing across the country so it provides a secure, affordable, quality alternative to home ownership would also go a long way in alleviating housing purchase demand, labour and housing markets mismatch, and support functioning economies, and diverse, inclusive communities. Finally, we must re-open the national conversation about the taxation settings that distort the housing market in favour of property speculators at the detriment of first home buyers and people who are simply looking to make a home. Those taxation settings are well known; capital gains tax discounts and negative gearing.
The housing question isnât going anywhere, and neither are we. Shelter NSW will continue to advocate through National Shelter and other organisations concerned with housing justice for ambitious action to end homelessness and fix Australiaâs housing system.