Family First's Upper House candidate for the up-coming South Australian election, Deepa Mathew, says the housing crisis will only be solved if governments take bold action to cut immigration, release more land and increase housing supply so families can get relief from rents now as high as Sydney's.
"The best way to take pressure off families struggling to pay rent is to increase housing supply. That means cutting immigration to manageable levels, freeing up land, slashing red and green tape, and fast-tracking modular and affordable homes," Ms Mathew said.
Family First says state and federal politicians have ignored the core drivers of the crisis for too long, allowing construction bottlenecks and population pressures to overwhelm the market.
"Our plan tackles the real causes," Ms Mathew said.
"Release more land. Remove excessive compliance costs. Support modular housing. Extend the first home buyers grant to existing homes. Allow pensioners to downsize without penalty. And above all — reduce immigration until supply catches up. These are the practical and urgent steps needed to put downward pressure on rents."
The warning comes as new data from the National Shelter–SGS Economics and Planning Rental Affordability Index reveals that Adelaide is now just as unaffordable as Sydney — the worst result on record.
"Families in Adelaide are being pushed to the brink," Ms Mathew said.
"When median rents swallow 30 per cent of household income, something is seriously wrong. We are no longer talking about isolated pockets — from Gawler to Aldinga, affordable rentals have simply vanished."
Ms Mathew said the crisis is harming families and crippling local businesses that cannot attract workers because people can't afford to live nearby.
"This is destroying opportunities for young families and leaving employers desperate. South Australia cannot prosper without homes that ordinary people can actually afford."
