Housing crisis missing from intergenerational report

24/08/2023

Everybody’s Home says the Federal Government’s intergenerational report misses the mark by ignoring housing.

Spokesperson Maiy Azize said housing will have a major impact on the lives of Australians in coming decades.

“Housing is a huge driver of inequality and insecurity. Whether a person has secure housing will shape the quality of their lives. And when hundreds of thousands of people miss out, everyone pays the price. The cost of inaction is huge,” Ms Azize said.

“Australia’s entire social security system assumes that people will have paid off a mortgage by the time they retire. Our aged care system relies on people’s homes for funding.

“But more and more people will be renting for life. They are heading for an insecure retirement, and Australia is heading for more inequality and insecurity.

“All of these issues are missing from the intergenerational report.

“Without a plan for secure, affordable housing, hundreds of thousands of Australians will miss out. Our health and aged care systems won’t be ready for the huge costs of people being pushed into aged care too early – an issue flagged by the aged care Royal Commission – and growing rates of homelessness.

“If we don’t act now, the housing crisis will only get worse and take a greater toll. 

“We’re calling on the Federal Government to end our social housing shortfall by building 25,000 homes a year, and create a fairer tax system for renters. 

“If they don’t step up, a generation of Australians will inherit a country that is more unstable, and more unfair.”