Responding to tonight’s budget reply speech, Anglicare Australia Executive Director has warned that plans to repeal the Housing Australia Future Fund would worsen Australia’s social housing shortfall.
“Across the country, there are people in severe rental stress. They are being forced to make unfair choices every day, from skipping meals to getting into debt, just to keep a roof over their heads.
“Many of the people who see us for help are in desperate need of social housing, with a shortfall of 640,000 homes. That number is set to grow to 940,000 over the next two decades.
“At a time when we need more social housing, the Opposition is proposing to build less by scrapping the Housing Australia Future Fund. That would see our already large social housing shortfall get even worse.
“Nobody will benefit from this plan, and tens of thousands will be left in limbo as the housing crisis worsens.”
Ms Chambers also warned that the opposition’s proposed Super for Housing scheme could push up costs and lower retirement incomes.
“We saw during the pandemic that people who drew down on their retirement savings were those who had the least. On top of that, we know that schemes like these push up the cost of housing instead of bringing them down.
“We know what needs to be done to make homes more affordable. We need to boost social housing and reform investor tax concessions. Ahead of the election, we hope to work with all parties and candidates on plans to tackle the housing crisis – and put an end to band-aid solutions that make it worse.”