Today, the ACT Greens have announced an election commitment which will fundamentally reshape Canberra's housing market and empower Canberrans to make 2024 a turning point in the housing crisis.
"Housing is a human right and the foundation to living a life with dignity. Everybody should have a secure home," said Deputy Leader of the ACT Greens Rebecca Vassarotti.
"Right now, more people than ever are struggling to put a roof over their heads. It's really clear the private market has failed our community.
"The wait list for public housing keeps getting longer and longer. Now with over 3000 names, it's showing no sign of slowing down.
"The only way to fix housing is for the government to step in and make change.
"Today, the ACT Greens have announced an independently costed plan to build and buy 10,000 public homes over the next 10 years.
"This is the biggest housing affordability initiative ever proposed in the history of self-government.
"This $2.2 billion investment over the next term of parliament will be through direct funding from the government.
"The Greens will also fight for co-investment from the Federal Labor government to make up for the decades of neglect that has caused the crisis in public housing.
"This investment in our community will mean people struggling with the cost of living will actually be able to afford to keep a roof over their heads."
The ACT Greens will deliver homes and jobs by:
- Building and buying 10,000 public homes over 10 years
- Establishing a government-owned housing developer and builder
- Creating a prefabrication manufacturing hub to quickly and efficiently construct public homes
- Establishing a pilot project for home owners to sell their homes to the government to contribute to public housing stock
- Establishing a government-owned public housing maintenance provider
Leader of the ACT Greens Shane Rattenbury said that the Government needs to transform the housing market to prioritise people over profit.
"There was a time when governments understood they needed to provide homes as an essential service like health or education.
"When Canberra was first established the government did build homes, and most people lived in public housing.
"Canberra needs many more publicly-owned, affordable and high-quality homes.
"Together we can change public housing from being seen as a last resort, to being a landlord of choice and an affordable housing option for all Canberrans."
ACT Greens Candidate for Brindabella Sam Nugent said Canberrans need big and urgent change to the housing market.
"After going through an expensive divorce, a few years ago I found myself working homeless," said ACT Greens Candidate for Brindabella, Sam Nugent.
"Despite being on a relatively high income, I was forced to sleep in my car or under my desk.
"Unfortunately, this is a harsh reality facing more and more Canberrans. And it needs to stop.
"Every Canberran deserves the security and dignity of having a roof over their head. And the Greens want to make that happen," said Ms Nugent.
Direct investment in public housing is a big part of solving the housing crisis, but the ACT Greens will announce more of our comprehensive plan over the coming months, on renters rights, building more homes without paving over the environment and ending homelessness.
