Housing groups’ anger at short-sighted cuts
Adrian Pisarski, chairperson of National Shelter, has described cuts to housing programs announced by Prime Minister Gillard as short-sighted and damaging.
“At a time of great need for affordable housing, both before and after the floods, the government has slashed the only programs dedicated to helping families in housing stress,” Mr Pisarski said.
Prime Minister Gillard announced “capping” of the National Rental Affordability Scheme from 50,000 incentives to 35,000 incentives as one initiative to help pay for flood recovery.
“In general we support the levy and understand the need to finance it, but it beggars belief that NRAS should be bundled into these government cuts,” Mr Pisarski added.
“I am based in Queensland and one of the greatest infrastructure needs we have following the devastation of floods is affordable housing – there are effectively no rental properties available.”
Mr Pisarski says National Shelter and others will call for a restoration and increase of NRAS at the earliest opportunity.
Over 1 million households currently live in housing stress paying more than 30% of income on housing costs, 65% of these are in the rental market. Queensland suffers the highest level of housing stress of any state.
Housing Australia Affordably, National Shelter’s policy platform makes extensive recommendations to improve housing affordability in Australia. It is available at National Shelter’s website http://www.shelter.org.au
