Key electorates to swing on housing crisis, new poll warns

Federal politicians are in for a shock this election, as a new poll warns key electorates will swing on the housing crisis, with Australia’s generous negative gearing benefits in the firing line.

Key electorates are set to fire up over the housing crisis.

Federal politicians are in for a shock this election, with a new poll warning key electorates will swing on the housing crisis, with Australia’s generous negative gearing benefits in the firing line.

The poll, the first of several planned across key electorates in the lead up to the 2025 federal election, warned there was a major disconnect between politicians and the majority of voters that will put major parties in the firing line.

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Brisbane’s inner suburbs have seen massive escalations in housing prices since the pandemic.

It found 47 per cent of voters believed both Labor and the Liberals were simply not committing to solutions that would make housing more affordable for most Australians.

The poll was conducted in February by uComms for Everybody’s Home, whose spokeswoman Maiy Azize warned “the worst housing crisis in living memory is smashing Australians and voters are ready to turn their pain into political power”.

“This polling sends a blunt warning to federal politicians: deliver real action on housing or pay the price at the ballot box. We’re seeing a critical gap between voter expectations and political action.”

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Pro-investor policies are seeing some backlash in the wake of the housing crisis.

One of the most hotly contested federal seats, Brisbane, is set to fire up again this election the new poll found - with the results the first of a series of town halls type events planned for key electorates.

It found 45 per cent of those surveyed in Brisbane preferred that government policies help fund affordable homes, while just 17 per cent favoured tax concessions for property investors.

A massive 63 per cent said they were likely to vote for a party or candidate who prioritised ways to make renting more affordable and secure.

“These polling results in Brisbane show the housing crisis has spiralled out of control,” Ms Azize said. “Housing ranks as the number one cost-of-living pressure, and voters are ready to back candidates who will take bold action and offer real solutions.”

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Brisbane has seen a rise in apartment prices to levels once considered a luxury.

According to Everybody’s Home Brisbane is still facing a severe housing crisis, with median unit rents in five postcodes now sitting 26 per cent higher than the national median (($709 vs $561).

A massive four in five Brisbane renters (78 per cent) are experiencing financial stress, it found, with 5,600 households still in need of social housing, the survey found.

“Voters are demanding the next federal government make commitments that match the scale of the housing crisis. That means building more social housing, ending investor tax breaks, and strengthening renter protections.”

“The housing crisis will define this election. Politicians have an opportunity to shift the dial on the housing crisis that can transform the lives of millions of Australian voters and shape their political legacy.”

The biggest cost of living pressure was housing (42.5 per cent), followed by groceries (25 per cent), energy bills (12 per cent) and insurance (9.5 per cent).

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Originally published as Key electorates to swing on housing crisis, new poll warns