Australia: The Australian Prime Minister, Mr. Anthony Albanese, has announced that the national cabinet has agreed to give states and territories a “new home bonus” of up to $3 billion if they assist in achieving a revised goal of constructing 1.2 million new homes within the next five years.
The new goal involves building an extra 200,000 homes beyond the target set in the National Housing Accord, which was agreed upon by states and territories last year.
“All governments recognise the best way to ensure that more Australians have a safe and affordable place to call home is to boost housing supply,” the Prime Minister stated.
This is what National Cabinet decided today:
?️ Build 1.2 million homes over 5 years.
? A better deal for renters.
? Planning reforms.— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) August 16, 2023
Addressing the increasing rents and housing shortage during a cost-of-living challenge, housing took the top spot on the agenda for the Prime Minister and the Premiers.
Mr. Albanese mentioned that the different regions would work towards establishing national uniformity in terms of needing valid reasons for eviction, capping annual rent hikes, and gradually implementing basic rental standards.
“We’re not in a position to flick the switch and just change eight pieces of legislation across states and territories immediately,” Mr. Albanese observed.
The Prime Minister commented that the rental actions would have a noticeable effect on nearly one-third of Australians who are renters. However, these measures fell short of satisfying the ‘Australian Greens’, a political party in Australia, who have been urging the government to take more extensive steps.
“Today the government just spat in the face of the nearly 8 million people in this country who rent and offered them basically nothing,” Greens MP Mr. Max Chandler-Mather said.
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