Chapter:
15 - Housing
Mover:
Mick Koppie
Seconder:
James Eveille
 
 
Source:
EEIRT Policy Committee​
My Private Notes


Preamble
The ACT, and Australia nationwide, is currently faced with a housing shortage. The shortages have led to rapidly increasing house prices and rents.
In the ACT:
1. The average persons per household have decreased from 2.9 to 2.3. (1985 to 2021), a 20% reduction.
2. Rents are not affordable for low-income households, and the average house price is around $1,200,000, unit prices are around $600,000
3. Government housing wait is Priority 1.5 years, high needs transfer 3.2 years, Standard 5 years
4. International immigration at the national level last year was 500,000. In the ACT population growth includes a strong 7000+ international migration, with negative interstate migration.
5. Shortfalls in social housing dwellings are estimated at 3,100 by ACTCOSS.
6. In 2022-2023, the ACT Government’s Growing and Renewing Public Housing program delivered an additional 183 dwellings via construction with a further 337 under construction. This and further proposals are below the shortfall noted by ACTCOSS. 
7. The proportion of social housing ACT is 6.3%, good by Australian standards, but was 7.6% in 2014.

8. In 2022-23, the Government purchased 38 existing dwellings from the market for public housing supply.
Key groups for public, social and affordable housing include: 
1. Homeless individuals (census estimate around 2,200, with older women overrepresented)
2. Sleeping Rough individuals (census estimate 60 – 100)
3. Domestic & Family Violence affected cicrumstances
4. Those completing custodial sentences
5. Unemployed individuals; and
6. Low-income individuals or families 
7. Canberrans with disabilities

General Resolution

Housing provision options for Canberrans

​ACT Labor calls on the ACT Government to commit to:
Fast tracking public and social housing provision , including through   land release and purchasing policy that supports efficient public and social housing delivery; 
Engaging providers who can supply completed buildings in a short timeframe, including off-site manufactured housing, both units and housing;
Commit, longer term, to the adequate provision of public, social, and affordable rental housing for low-income workers and other disadvantaged groups, including essential workers.