Housing affordability: Wentworth federal election candidates discuss cost of living in the eastern suburbs
What role should government play in promoting the supply of affordable housing? With one Wentworth candidate suggesting eastern suburbs residents feeling the pinch look to the more budget friendly City of Sydney, another wants them to go even further afield to a habitable desert.
Wentworth Courier
Don't miss out on the headlines from Wentworth Courier. Followed categories will be added to My News.
From continuing investment in public transport infrastructure to planning law changes, Wentworth candidates have ideas on how to make the east affordable – or at least accessible – to those on a fixed income.
New data from community housing provider Link Housing shows the median weekly rent in the electorate of Wentworth is $881 and dwelling price is $2,051,413.
Sitting Liberal member Dave Sharma last year called for the repeal of the state government housing target set for Woollahra council.
He said the main challenges for the eastern suburbs are the lack of available land and the limitations due to available infrastructure.
“In my view the Woollahra local government area is close to capacity in terms of the number of dwellings and population it can accommodate with the current infrastructure and facilities,” Mr Sharma said.
“There are a range of affordable social and community housing units being constructed in the adjacent City of Sydney local government area, which has greater scope and land to accommodate this.”
With a deposit is the largest barrier for many first home buyers, Sharma said federal government initiatives such as the Home Guarantee Scheme are helping to bridge the gap, helping single parents buy a home with a deposit as low as two per cent.
“I am also a supporter of innovative projects such as Holdsworth’s HomeShare initiative, which matches older people living alone in their own home – a common scenario in the eastern suburbs – with a younger person who is happy to provide companionship for affordable accommodation.”
Independent Allegra Spender said the federal government should provide incentives to the states to encourage an increase to the housing supply.
“In the eastern suburbs, we should look at setting aside some housing for essential workers, like teachers and nurses,” Ms Spender said.
“I would be open to a national shared equity scheme for low-income home buyers, as proposed by the Grattan Institute. Such a scheme could see the federal government co-purchase up to 30 per cent of a home’s value, and allow the homebuyer to provide just a five per cent deposit.”
Labor candidate Tim Murray said his party will create the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund which will build 30,000 new social and affordable housing properties in its first five years.
Mr Murray said $1.7 billion of the fund will be allocated to women – $1.6 billion for long term housing, and an additional $100 million for crisis and transitional housing options for women and children fleeing domestic and family violence, and older women on low incomes who are at risk of homelessness.
“Domestic violence is serious problem in Wentworth. Should I be elected I will lobby to get transitional housing for women and children in Wentworth
“Access to affordable and low cost housing should be available everywhere regardless of postcode. Good communities are diverse ones.”
Mr Murray, who is elected to Waverley Council, said the council provides 70 affordable and social housing apartments and has endorsed the Affordable Housing Contributions Scheme which stipulates up to 10 per cent of developments which take advantage of certain planning controls need to be affordable.
“The problem with this scheme is that the LNP State Government is not supporting it and so it cannot be implemented,” he said.
Liberal Democrat candidate Daniel Lewkovitz said the ongoing concentration of property in a very small area of our enormous landmass was the problem.
“There is simply no reason why a sprawling Australian city should resemble an Asian metropolitan area. The Liberal Democrats are opposed to government intervention in free markets and note that well-intentioned subsidies and grants typically increase the sale prices of houses cancelling themselves out,” Mr Lewkovitz said.
“We lack politicians with vision beyond the next election. I would propose greening our desert as Israel has shown. We should be building new cities rather than cramming people into already full spaces.”
However The Greens’ Dominic WY Kanak said housing is a basic human right and that there is a role for governments to ensure that housing is available and affordable for everyone, just like medical care and education.
“We are calling for a big increase in support for public housing and for NSW planning law changes to require significant new developments to provide a proportion of affordable units,” Mr WY Kanak said.
“We also support an expanded role for housing cooperatives, trusts and other non-profit providers of housing.
“It’s always possible (and essential) to ensure affordable housing is available – the problem is that governments choose to not address the problem of market failure in the housing sector.
“The eastern suburbs are particularly impacted by an increasing shortage of housing for essential workers like nurses, teachers, firefighters etc. A mix of housing types also supports more vibrant and resilient communities, and increases economic activity outside the construction sector.”
Natalie Dumer said existing homeowners will have their interest rate capped at three per cent for five years if the United Australia Party is elected.
Ms Dumer also advocated for a move away from mega cities.
“The United Australia Party has a deurbanisation policy which offers people 20 per cent tax reduction when residing in areas 200km from the city centre which will allow savings particularly for young adults and relieve our inadequate infrastructure,” Ms Dumer said.
“Anyone living in the east has experienced the peak hour traffic nightmare on Bondi road, Old South Head Road and New South Head Road.”
Ultra-light winds foil Aussies at America’s Cup youth regatta
Australia finally raced in anger at the America’s Cup Youth regatta after days of weather delays and in terrible conditions off Barcelona. Latest news.
‘Physical, combative’: What selectors looking for at Waratahs U15 trials
A desire to be “physical and combative’ are just two traits NSW Waratahs selectors are keen to see as 125 of NSW’s best junior talent hunt for spots in their U15’s squad this weekend.