Record underspending on social housing in 2019 Budget as homelessness is on record high

29/05/2019

2 April 2019

Media release

The Coalition Government has refused to acknowledge Australia’s growing housing crisis in the Budget announcement tonight.

Everybody’s Home, a national alliance of community, housing and homelessness organisations, called on the Treasurer for a fairer housing budget in a campaign leading up to the Federal budget announcement.

“We called for urgent relief for hundreds of thousands who are homeless on any one night in Australia.” Kate Colvin, Everybody’s Home campaign spokesperson said.

“Last year, the Coalition had a chance to make a real move towards ending our housing crisis after really shocking Census data revealed that homelessness in Australia had increased by 14% nationally and by 22% for people between 19 and 24. Unsurprisingly, they made no such move.

“So, while the Coalition announced a surplus tonight, it means little to those 116,000 people experiencing homelessness tonight.

“The Federal Government continues to prop up the property sector with $11.8 billion in tax breaks but there’s nothing for ordinary Australians and renters who just want a home.

“It’s appalling that the government knows that there will be 116,000 people experiencing homeless tonight and yet they have still chosen to favour property investors with negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions.

“More than 800,000 Australian households have had to go without the essentials like food, just so that they can pay the rent. It’s not fair but it’s clear that fairness is not a priority for our current Government,” said Ms Colvin.

 

Everybody’s Home called on the Prime Minister, Hon. Scott Morrison, and Treasurer, Hon. Josh Frydenberg to rebalance the budget and:

• Wind back the negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions to investors that cost billions in lost revenue.
• Use these savings to kick start investment in the 500,000 social and affordable rental homes desperately needed by Australians on low and middle incomes.
• Increase funding for homelessness services so we can end homelessness by 2030; and
• Increase Commonwealth Rent Assistance by $20 a week to reflect the fact that rents have skyrocketed across the country.

“These were all practical, do-able solutions that would help make housing fairer and give every Australian the best chance to have a home,” said Ms Colvin.

 

 

 

Everybody’s Home campaign spokespeople are available for comment.

 

Media enquiries: Aliya Ahmad 0428 684 307