The Albanese Labor Government's social and affordable housing program is building momentum. New data just in from Housing Australia and the states and territories shows more than 5,000 social and affordable homes have now been completed with Federal Government investment since the Albanese Government was elected.
Most of these homes have been built from the ground up, start to finish - from West Ulverstone in Tasmania, Canley Heights in New South Wales, to Rosebud in Victoria. These homes are now supporting those doing it tough - from women and children escaping domestic violence to older women at risk of homelessness.
These are some of the 55,000 social and affordable homes Labor is delivering to help rebuild the chronic shortage left after the Coalition built just 373 in their 9 years in office. Despite delays by the Coalition and Greens last term, more than 25,000 social and affordable homes are now in construction and planning.
This is part of Labor's $43 billion housing agenda, with $20.7 billion now committed to projects that lock in lower rents for decades to come. More than $3.4 billion has already gone out the door since Labor was elected. This includes:
- $2 billion to states under the Social Housing Accelerator to start building homes immediately.
- Over $1 billion through Housing Australia's programs, including nearly $150 million for Housing Australia Future Fund projects that are starting to have tenants move in.
- Over $300 million to improve remote housing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
This agenda is widely supported across the housing sector.
"Thankfully, with the HAFF beginning to bear fruit… we now have the necessary mechanisms and institutions to properly begin the mammoth task of turning our housing system around", Wendy Hayhurst, Community Housing Industry Association (16/9/24)
"This initiative will add more urgently needed social housing stock and bring critical momentum to housing supply efforts across the country, unlocking significant new investment and creating thousands of construction jobs…" Mike Zorbas, Property Council of Australia (16/12/24)
"…the Housing Australia Future Fund that the Government's got going is one of the best policies I've seen", Alan Kohler, ABC Financial Journalist (10/9/24)
With apartments taking three years to build on average, we haven't waited to provide relief. Since being elected, Labor has lifted Commonwealth Rent Assistance by nearly 50 per cent for a million Australians.
This week was another big win for housing: red tape cut for more homes, 5 per cent deposits for more first home buyers, and now more progress on social and affordable housing.
By contrast, the Coalition's only housing policy is to block more homes. They built just 373 social and affordable homes in nine years, stood in the way of more homes last term, and their first act this term was to try to block 80,000 new rental homes by opposing Labor's Build to Rent regulation.
We're focused on delivery. The Albanese Government is working with Housing Australia on the design of Round 3 of the Housing Australia Future Fund, opening later this year to deliver thousands more homes for those who need them.
Quotes attributable to Clare O'Neil, Minister for Housing, Homelessness and Cities
"Labor's housing agenda is delivering - more than 5,000 social and affordable homes completed and more than 25,000 in construction and planning.
"This is changing the lives of Australians doing it tough, from women and children escaping domestic violence to veterans and older women at risk of homelessness.
"The Coalition only built 373 when they were in office - and in opposition they've done nothing but block more."
