This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
THE property industry has welcomed the Albanese government’s changes to the frontbench and ministries, as latest polling shows housing affordability is now the number one issue for Australians.
Former Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil has been appointed the new Minister for Housing and Minister for Homelessness.
The reshuffle comes after the resignation of Ministers Brendan O’Connor and Linda Burney last week.
O’Neil will take over the housing portfolio from Julie Collins, who has been appointed the new Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry; Minister for Small Business.
Other appointments include Senator Jenny McAllister as Minister for Cities.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute to retiring ministers O’Connor and Burney for their outstanding contribution after decades of public service.
He said the reshuffle builds on their progress demands and will elevate new voices to the ministry.
Minister O’Neil said she is ready to tackle the big problems for every Australian.
This comes as the latest YouGov polling shows housing affordability is the number one issue for Australians, ahead of living standards and health.
“I’m enormously proud of what I’ve achieved in two years in Home Affairs.
“I thank the PM for a new opportunity to tackle one of the biggest problems that people in my community talk to me about – housing for every Australian.
“I got into politics to change people’s lives for the better. Nothing is more fundamental to the health and welfare of Australians than secure, affordable housing,” O’Neil said.
The Property Council of Australia welcomed the appointment and encouraged Minister O’Neil to focus on quick wins ahead of the Federal election.
“We congratulate Clare O’Neil on her appointment as Minister for Housing and Minister for Homelessness, and we will work closely with her to bridge the housing gap by the end of the decade,” PCA chief executive Mike Zorbas said.
“The Minister has five policy levers that could bridge the almost 300,000 home gap we face by 2029.
“We need to ensure that mortgages are not just for the rich and give young first-home buyers a better chance of accessing credit for housing,” Zorbas said.
“We need fit-for-purpose build-to-rent housing legislation that can deliver more new homes, including low-income housing, than the previously announced 40,000 homes by 2029 under the Housing Australia Future Fund.
“And we need best practice policy support on tax, targets and planning for high community benefit housing that provides more accommodation and services to seniors and students at less cost to the taxpayer,” he added. “That means prioritising purpose-built student accommodation and more retirement living communities in cities and towns across the country.
Zorbas also paid tribute to Collins.
“We thank outgoing Housing Minister Julie Collins for being the first steward of historic national housing targets and for establishing the Housing Australia Future Fund and the National Housing Affordability and Supply Council.
“Minister Collins achieved the creation of these vehicles in a Parliament bitterly divided on housing solutions and both can and should be game changers over time,” Zorbas said.
Separately, the Property Council notes the work of Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy Jenny McAllister, whose promotion to the Ministry as the Minister for Cities and the Minister for Emergency Management follows her strong work on energy efficiency policies to reduce Australia’s emissions.
“It’s great to see the elevation of the Cities portfolio, and we look forward to working with Jenny McAllister in her role as a steward for Australian cities as they decarbonise, become more productive economic centres, and house our growing population,” Zorbas said.
