Today, Housing Ministers met to discuss how they can work together on the housing and homelessness challenges Australia faces.
Minister for Housing and Minister for Homelessness, Julie Collins MP, said Ministers are committed to working collaboratively across all levels of government to make it easier for Australians to access safe and secure housing.
“This meeting is the first step to designing and delivering the Albanese Government’s housing reform agenda to address the significant challenges across the housing spectrum, from homelessness to housing affordability,” Ms Collins said.
“Housing is central to the wellbeing of all Australians, and all levels of government are committed to ensuring everyone can more easily access safe, affordable housing. All states and territories have agreed to work together on these reforms.”
The Albanese Government’s housing reform agenda includes:
- The $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund that will build 30,000 social and affordable housing properties in its first five years;
- Help to Buy, a new program to make it cheaper and easier for Australians to own their own home;
- The Regional First Home Buyer Support Scheme;
- Establishing a National Housing Supply and Affordability Council; and
- Developing a new National Housing and Homelessness Plan.
Close collaboration between the Albanese Government and State and Territory Governments will be critical to the development of the new National Housing and Homelessness Plan and Ministers agreed to further meetings to progress reform.
“My state and territory colleagues also discussed the priorities, challenges and housing strategies in their jurisdictions, providing key insights, including how the Albanese Government’s initiatives will boost and leverage their recent investments to increase social and affordable housing,” Minister Collins said.
“I also reaffirmed our commitment to engage with states and territories, local government as well as key stakeholders, to help further design and implement our housing agenda. Through national leadership, our government will maintain its strong focus on stable and affordable housing for all.”