CEO Update July

It has been a huge month for housing, as the need for urgent solutions to our housing crisis has been central to public and political debate. 

We welcomed the great news that the Prime Minister announced $2 billion in new funding through the Social Housing Accelerator, which is being distributed to the states and territories to deliver new social housing. While many details are not yet known, we do know that the states and territories will have flexibility in how they spend the funds for new public and community housing supply. Victoria will receive $496 million as part of this initiative, with all funds needing to be committed over the next two years. 

Days later, it was disappointing to see the Federal Government’s housing legislation, setting up the Housing Australia Future Fund, postponed from going to a vote in the Senate this month, and we are hopeful that the legislation passes in October so that the fund can start delivering new homes as soon as possible.  

The Victorian Labor Party also held its State Conference in late June, and the action group Labor for Housing successfully moved and passed a number of motions relating to the Housing part of the platform, namely:  

• Recognising housing as a human right 
• Introducing Mandatory Inclusionary Zoning  
• Right to a decent home  
• Regulation of short-stay accommodation  
• Making housing more affordable for younger people

While the decisions of Labor’s State Conference aren’t binding on Government, they do play an important role in guiding policy development and we welcome the passing of these motions as we continue to advocate for ongoing investment in social housing to meet the growing community need.  

Additionally, the Victorian Parliament has established an inquiry into ‘the rental and housing affordability crisis in Victoria.’ Submissions close on 7 July and CHIA Vic is preparing a targeted and informed submission that will recommend: 

• The Government establish a long-term funding pipeline for growing social and affordable housing 
• The Government introduces a Mandatory Inclusionary Zoning scheme that will ensure the planning system delivers more social and affordable housing out of the growth and delivery of private residential developments. 

 This will run parallel to a National Senate Enquiry into ‘the worsening rental crisis in Australia’, with broad Terms of Reference and we and other state housing peaks will be supporting CHIA National to provide a submission.   

 Lastly, we welcome recent statements from the Premier about the housing affordability package currently in the works, which he says will be the biggest and most profound reform to housing supply in many decades.  We will continue to advocate for social housing investment to be at the heart of these reforms, to ensure housing supply and affordability is improved across the whole housing system, and particularly for those who are most vulnerable.