Albo’s huge push to fix Australia’s housing crisis

The PM will unveil a huge windfall for future homeowners in the budget next week along with more safe houses for domestic abuse survivors.

The devastating death toll of Australian women killed and injured by their boyfriends, husbands and ex-partners has prompted the Albanese Government to invest $5 billion in Tuesday’s budget to build new homes and crisis accommodation for women and children fleeing domestic violence.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will announce an $11 billion boost to new housing investments in next week’s Budget under the Homes for Australia plan.

The Albanese Government will commit $1 billion to building new crisis and transitional accommodation for women and children fleeing domestic violence, and youth under the National Housing Infrastructure Facility.Another $1 billion devoted to getting more homes built sooner across Australia for workers, including funding for states and territories to build the roads, sewers, energy, water and community infrastructure.

The plans include more safe houses for women fleeing domestic violence. Pictured is Hannah Clarke and her children (L-R) Laianah, Aaliyah and Trey who were killed by Ms Clarke’s estranged partner on their way to school in February 2020. Picture: Facebook

By turbo-charging investment in infrastructure, the government hopes to support an increase in new housing builds for all Australians to ease the rental crisis.

“This isn’t about one suburb or one city or one state. It’s a challenge facing Australians everywhere and it needs action from every level of government,’’ Mr Albanese said.

“This Budget means more tradies, fewer barriers to construction, less talk and more homes.”

Treasurer Jim Chalmers said housing was a big priority for the Albanese Government and it would be a big focus of the Budget.

“Australia needs to build more homes more quickly and that’s what this substantial investment will help to deliver,’’ he said.

“We’re delivering billions more dollars in the Budget to build more homes across the country because we know that to address this housing challenge, we need to boost supply.”

For many Australians the Great Australian Dream is now unattainable.

The announcement follows the National Cabinet on Friday, where Premiers and Chief Ministers proposed new measures designed to deliver crisis and transitional accommodation for women and children fleeing domestic violence, and youth under the National Housing Infrastructure Facility.

The new spending will boost the investment from $175 million to $700 million in the Budget to be able to support crisis and transitional housing.

The biggest chunk of money is the new $9.3 billion 5-year National Agreement on Social Housing and Homelessness – for states and territories to combat homelessness, provide crisis support and build and repair social housing.

This new spending includes a doubling of Commonwealth homelessness funding to $400 million every year, matched by states and territories.

This significant new investment builds on the more than $25 billion in new housing investments our Government is delivering over the next decade, including:

· $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund to build 30,000 social and affordable rental homes.

· $2 billion Social Housing Accelerator to deliver around 4,000 new social homes across Australia.

· $3 billion New Homes Bonus to incentivise states and territories to build more homes.

· $5.5 billion Help to Buy scheme to help more Australians buy their own home.

· $2.7 billion to increase Commonwealth Rent Assistance by 15 per cent.

· $2 billion in financing for more social and affordable rental homes.

The budget will include $5.5 billion to help more Australians buy their own home. (iStock)

Housing Minister Julie Collins said Homes for Australia was the Government’s plan to help keep the great Australian dream in reach.

“Building more homes is the best way to address Australia’s housing challenges, and this is exactly what Homes for Australia will deliver.

“Homes for Australia will turbocharge the construction of new homes right across the country and ease the pressure on Australians doing it tough.

“We’re working across government, and with other tiers of government, to achieve the ambitious national target of 1.2 million new homes by the end of the decade.

“This will deliver more homes for home buyers, more homes for renters and more homes for Australians who need them.”

Originally published as Albo’s huge push to fix Australia’s housing crisis