Northern Rivers housing crisis goes unaddressed by federal budget

While Page MP Kevin Hogan said the 2021-22 budget would create jobs and keep our economy strong, others said it failed to address the region’s single most important issue ‒ housing.

2021-22 BUDGET: The Northern Rivers reacted in a mixed way following the buget announcement. Photo: Marc Stapelberg

It was labelled as the Covid recovery plan but it seems the 2021-22 federal budget has drawn a mixed response from Northern Rivers residents.

Page MP Kevin Hogan welcomed Treasurer Josh Frydenberg’s unveiling on Tuesday night.

“Australia’s unemployment rate has dropped from 7.5% to 5.6%, consumer confidence is at a 12-year high, and job advertisements are at their highest in two decades,” Mr Hogan said.

“This budget continues to build on this and outlines our Economic Recovery Plan for Australia.”

“It focuses on creating jobs and keeping our economy strong.”

“Australia is the only country in the world where there are more people employed today than there were before the pandemic.”

He noted several key elements that would directly affect our region including the $250 million investment into the Building Better Regions Fund.

“Through this fund I have secured money for Casino Saleyards, Grafton Riverside Precinct, Crozier and Oakes Oval upgrades, Woolgoolga Sports Complex and Ballina Airport,” Mr Hogan said.

Tax relief would also put more money into small businesses while extending the Instant Asset Write-Off would create more “economic activity” according to Mr Hogan.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg handed down The Morrison government's third budget, handed down on Tuesday. (Photo by Sam Mooy/Getty Images)

Farmers too praised a step in the right direction for regional NSW.

NSW Farmers’ Association president James Jackson said the news regional connectivity would be given a $105.8 million boost with the added commitment of $24.6 million to fund additional shovel-ready projects was positive.
“Increasingly the agricultural sector is expanding technological on-farm processes. For these to deliver the productivity gains anticipated reliability must be assured,” he said.

Mr Jackson also welcomed the $371 million boost to biosecurity and the $5.4 million into improving perishable agriculture goods market transparency.

Other significant pluses to note include the $1 billion national extension of the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program to 2022-23 and $630.2 million for better access to high-quality services for the elderly, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other special needs groups.

A stock image of the 2021-2022 Australian Budget is seen on the ground at Parliament House on May 12, 2021 in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Sam Mooy/Getty Images)

However, key problems like housing still remain unaddressed.

Home ownership incentives for single parents did little to address “areas of greatest need”said national spokeswoman for the Everybody’s Home campaign Kate Colvin.

“Unfortunately, the Government has missed an opportunity to invest in the potential of our people,” she said.

“Escalating housing prices are pushing more and more people into homelessness, including women and children escaping family violence, young people who can’t stay at home and older people on low incomes, especially women.

“While it is reassuring to see the Federal Government extend supplementary funding to homelessness services, demand continues to surge.

“Last year, one-third of the 54,000 women and children escaping family violence who came to homelessness services needing accommodation had to be turned away because no accommodation was available.”

Specific funding allocations for projects across Lismore Ballina, Byron Bay, Tweed and Kyogle were also entirely unmentioned by Treasurer Frydenberg.