Richmond election candidates address Tweed, Ballina, Byron housing

Richmond Federal Election Q+A: How will candidates tackle the housing crisis?

One of the most pressing issues for Richmond voters will be clear action on the North Coast’s housing crisis and now candidates have given their proposed plan of attack.

As part of our Northern NSW election coverage, we have quizzed experts and readers on the most pressing issues this election.

First up, we have the issue of housing and we have asked you what you want to know from our 10 Federal candidates.

In particular, this question came from North Coast Community Housing CEO John McKenna:

“Given we already had a housing emergency, due to a critical lack of social and affordable housing supply, in our region, what is your party’s solution to this wicked social problem which has only become worse since the recent floods?”

*Note: Answers have been edited slightly for clarity

Gary Biggs, Liberal Democrats

The LibDems are honest people we don’t sugar coat things – the fact is, the Government is broke. The housing crisis has been caused by local green councils not allowing release of enough housing land and the printing of money. If 50 per cent off all the money that exists today was printed in the last two years, is it any wonder that house prices have doubled?

There are only three way for the government to balance our budget: 1. More taxes 2. Higher taxes 3. Reduce expenses.

As nice as it would be to give everyone a house, increasing expenses is only going to make our problems worse. We need to reduce the cost of government. The cost of government is everybody’s biggest cost of living. It is the largest single item everybody pays for, way bigger than housing or food. The debt run up in the last term caused by panicked leadership, shutting down the productive sector of the economy is going to catch up with us in the next term.

We need real leadership which will tell it straight, and not run with silly stunts like ‘just sue coal’. The truth is there is not money for the housing crisis but allowing for more housing land release would help, and they can do that for free.

Justine Elliot, Labor

The only way to get real action on the housing crisis is to change the government by voting for Justine Elliot and Labor. We’ll cut the cost of buying a home by up to 40 per cent for 10,000 Australians per year. Our Help to Buy plan will assist people to buy a home with a smaller deposit, a smaller mortgage and smaller mortgage repayments. In our region, that could cut the cost of a mortgage by up to $380,000 on houses priced up to $950,000.

On top of this, our $10 billion Housing Australia Plan will build around 20,000 social housing properties and will build 10,000 affordable homes for frontline workers like police, nurses and cleaners. We’ll allocate $100 million for crisis and transitional housing options for those fleeing domestic and family violence and older women on low incomes at risk of homelessness, and $30 million to build more housing and services for veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Kimberley Hone, The Nationals

The next generation of Australians- like my little girls- should be able to make the positive choice of living locally if that is what they want, ideally through home ownership or at least affordable rentals.

They shouldn't be forced away from the area to make that choice. Natural disasters and council green tape are making this very difficult, but the Nationals in Government are bringing back choice.

Social housing is run by the NSW Government, and the Nationals in that Government are making a huge investment into social housing in our area, which is being expertly managed by North Coast Community Housing, the organisation let by the questioner, John McKenna.

He is also looking after hundreds of new medium term temporary local homes in places like Pottsville, Evans Head and Woodburn - a program co-funded by the Nationals in the NSW and Australian Governments as part of a coordinated flood recovery response. The federal focus in more on home ownership and the Nationals have introduced special deals for first timers, particularly families, which has helped 300,000 buy their home and a new 10,000-place Regional Home Guarantee is reserved for areas like the Northern Rivers.

Nathan Jones, independent

Housing is a human right and our biggest local issue. No housing leads to poor physical and mental health outcomes.

The floods have meant we need many short term solutions like rapid deployment of temporary housing. Caravans, dongas/temp cabins built on government and private land for two years. Increase Federal rental assistance for three years until the housing supply situation can catch up with demand. More domestic violence (DV) shelters and safe emergency accommodation.

Long term we need more investment in new private units/housing and investment in affordable, public and social housing. Research innovative new designs for flood plains home adaptability. Government affordable insurance scheme to be extended here. Trial of Australia’s first ‘long-term residents only’ new housing estate (No STRA). More low cost over 50s homes/estates so our poorer older generation are not left homeless. Local councils need to approve/rezone more suitable flood free land for more housing. Encourage wealthy locals to donate to local affordable housing schemes/housing fund.

We have “nine Housing Ministers” in Australia each with huge (fixed costs) departments and little public housing built each year (variable costs). Federation Reform say invest significantly in actual public housing not in capital city admin bureaucrat wages. We can solve this housing crisis in the Northern Rivers if we invest wisely.

Rob Marks, United Australia Party

Mr Marks was contacted for a response but did not reply before deadline.

Tracey Bell-Henselin, One Nation

Ms Bell-Henselin was contacted for a response but did not reply before deadline.

Mandy Nolan, The Greens

Our housing crisis is now a housing disaster.

I hear from community members living in tents in their backyards or camping in their flood ruined homes.

This week I have met with two families who have had to send their children to relatives and friends until they find secure housing.

It should never have gotten to this. Both major parties have abdicated their responsibility to provide social and affordable housing by leaving it for the private market. With negative gearing and tax incentives rewarding the use of property as investment rather than homes, we have lost control of our housing market. We have to address the housing shortfall now. Research by the Australian Greens has revealed that 89 out-of-town property moguls own 889 houses in the Richmond electorate. We need short-term holiday lets to be returned to the long-term rental market to provide homes now.

I have met with shire Mayors in Richmond to discuss the most appropriate location for government-owned social and affordable housing builds across the region. We want to see 6000 high-quality sustainable social and affordable housing builds. In the balance of power, I will push the next government to commit to this.

Terry Sharples, independent

Mr Sharples was contacted for a response but did not reply before deadline.

Monica Shephard, Informed Medical Options Party (IMOP)

The real elephant in the room with the housing crisis is vested interests: big business, governmental, and foreign countries.

There’s one party wanting to throw more Commonwealth money at the housing affordability factor in Northern Rivers but ultimately public money puts weight on the tax payer.

Greens councils equals lowering population of Northern Rivers. The rich people are saying poor people can’t afford to live here so go away it’s disgusting, what about the people who grew up in this area?

We need people who are willing to fight right from the top of the funnel to the bottom.

David Warth, independent

Mr Warth was contacted for a response but did not reply before deadline.