Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announces $2 billion social housing plan
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a one-off $2 billion social housing plan to ensure every Australian “has a roof over their head”.
The new Social Housing Accelerator scheme will give state and territory governments funds within the next two weeks to build up to 9000 more social homes.
He said the funding would be delivered to the governments in the next two weeks.
“This is new money, right now, for social housing,” Albanese said.
“Demand for social housing has increased almost three times as fast as the growth in population.”
Albanese said the Labor government had already unlocked $575 million for social and affordable homes.
He also plans to provide more build-to-rent accommodation and work with states and territories to improve renters’ rights.
“Every Australian deserves the sense of connection and community and dignity and stability that a home provides,” Albanese said.
“Knowing that you have a place to call home changes lives. It changed mine.”
Albanese grew up in social housing in Sydney’s Camperdown.
He said the new money would go alongside reforms to planning and zoning laws, as well as freeing up more land for social housing.
He lambasted the Greens in his announcement.
“They are a party of protest, happy to promise the world while organising a petition against every new apartment building that’s proposed,” Albanese said.
“The fact is the Greens have blocked more houses than they have ever built.”
Master Builders Australia CEO Denita Wawn welcomed the funding.
“The Accelerator is a crucial step towards addressing the persistent issue of housing affordability in the country,” she said in a statement.
“The Federal Government’s dedication to collaborative efforts with industry stakeholders, as well as state and territory governments, to tackle the housing supply predicament is commendable.”
