Election 2022: Climate to drive housing policies

The electorates that had some of the largest paper wealth gains through the recent housing boom have sided with teal independents.

Climate action may play a bigger role in climate policy moving forward. Picture: Katherine Lu

The electorates that had some of the largest paper wealth gains through the recent housing boom have sided with teal independents in a move property ­industry experts believe could see climate become an influencing factor on housing policy.

More than a quarter of the top 20 electorates with the highest property price increase since the pandemic began in March 2020 have had a change in the federal member, according to analysis by social housing peak body PowerHousing Australia.

One of these was the Sydney northern beaches seat of Mackellar which recorded a median rise of $676,805 over the period and whose outgoing member, Jason Falinski, was the chair of the Morrison government’s Housing Affordability Inquiry. He was replaced by independent Sophie Scamps, who ran on a climate and integrity agenda.

Similarly, independent Allegra Spender defeated Liberal ­incumbent Dave Sharma in the blue ribbon seat of Wentworth, while Robertson, Bennelong and North Sydney, alongside Ryan in Brisbane, all fell to progressive candidates.

PowerHousing Australia chief executive Nicholas Proud said the vote for change could create longstanding policy ­impacts on the housing system.

“There are still more votes to count, but it is clear that many whose paper wealth has increased have voted for issues such as climate, housing and cost-of-living pressure relief which the ALP, Independents and Greens have largely campaigned on,” Mr Proud said.

Green Building Council of Australia chief executive Davina Rooney said this was the climate change election and the people have spoken.

“We’ve never seen a bigger connection between what we need in policy and what is happening with our climate,” Ms Rooney said. “There is a lot of ­opportunity in social and affordable housing. What is even better is we have the solutions, it is about implementing it.”

Housing affordability and ownership became one of the biggest issues in the final weeks of the campaign, with Labor pledging to build 30,000 new social and affordable homes, while implementing a shared equity scheme for 10,000 buyers, with many homes to be purchased likely to be newly built.

Mr Proud expects action on housing and climate change to be top of the agenda, given the sector’s importance to reducing emissions.

“The need to reduce housing emissions which contribute up to 20 per cent of Australia’s CO2 footprint, will have to be an obvious priority by the new parliament for these independents, Greens and the ALP government to ‘get runs on the board or emissions out of the air’ by the time Australians head to the polls again in 2025,” he said.

CoreLogic’s head of government, Ryan Williams, said increasing the energy efficiency of homes also plays into the cost of living issue. “What I predict to see is a greater focus and action on reducing the carbon footprint and increasing energy efficiency,” Mr Williams said.

“What is unique in Australia is the government is working in lock-step with industry to deliver climate initiatives.”

Mr Proud said locals in many high-wealth electorates now represented by progressives are living in old heritage listed homes that will require improving or replacement.