Michael Sukkar MP

HOUSING AFFORDABILITY’S GRIM REALITY UNDER LABOR

THE HON MICHAEL SUKKAR MP
Shadow Minister for Social Services
Shadow Minister for NDIS
Shadow Minister for Housing
Shadow Minister for Homelessness

MEDIA RELEASE

3 May 2024

HOUSING AFFORDABILITY’S GRIM REALITY UNDER LABOR

The National Housing Supply and Affordability Council has released its inaugural report, which has highlighted the grim reality of the Albanese Government’s housing crisis, gripping Australia.

Labor’s housing crisis is only getting worse with housing approvals for detached homes confirmed to be at their lowest levels since the Gillard Government.

We already know this Government will miss its 1.2 million homes by 2029 promise as confirmed by peak housing bodies, and now the State of the Housing System report, which is estimating 943,000 to be built in that time (while others expect this figure could go as low as 800,000). Despite this, the Prime Minister continues to blatantly lie to Australians about Labor’s worsening housing crisis.

Australians have every right to be angry with this Government’s failure to address cost of living pressures, particularly the housing minister who has failed to introduce any substantial housing policies to improve the living standards for Australians aspiring to own a home of their own.

Sadly, this Government is completely out of ideas and the only housing policies delivering support to first home buyers are the housing policies Labor inherited from the former Coalition Government.

Under Labor, house prices are at record highs with only 13 per cent of homes being sold, affordable on a medium income. Things aren’t any better for renters either, with rent skyrocketing faster than wage growth, up 8 per cent, and rental vacancies at historic lows.

Labor’s record migration continues at full speed despite 169,000 households remaining on public housing waiting lists and 122,000 people experiencing homelessness.

The Coalition remains steadfast in our commitment to continue to be the party of homeownership and first home buyers, with a proven track record to back this up.

Labor continues to dodge the Coalition’s questions about the state of the housing crisis, and after more than 20 months of this Government, things are unfortunately only going to get worse with home ownership and the residential construction industry remaining at the bottom of Labor’s priority list.

The Prime Minister must now wave the white flag and admit he’s broken another election promise and given up on home ownership.

Ends