COALITION GUARANTEES $1.5 BILLION TO UNLOCK REGIONAL HOMES
REGIONAL AUSTRALIA IS READY TO GROW — NOW IT NEEDS THE HOMES
Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox has welcomed the Coalition's plan to direct $1.5 billion from its $5 billion Housing Infrastructure Fund towards rural and regional Australia, helping unlock up to 120,000 new homes across the regions.
Mr Willcox said the announcement was particularly important for communities such as Mackay and Townsville, where housing supply remains under pressure and the cost of renting has risen sharply.
Mackay Regional Council's Housing Strategy found rents in the region had increased by 131 per cent since 2017, while public and social housing supply has struggled to keep pace with demand.
“Mackay is a growing regional city, but growth means nothing if workers cannot find a home and families cannot afford to live here,” Mr Willcox said.
“We need houses, but we also need the roads, water, sewerage and other infrastructure that make those houses possible.
“That is where the Federal Government needs to step up. You cannot ask regional councils to carry the cost of growth while taking away funding they rely on to deliver the infrastructure our communities need.
“Mackay and the regions are doing the heavy lifting for the Australian economy. We should not be told to grow, and then left to work out how to pay for that growth ourselves.”
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor said regional Australians had been overlooked for too long when it came to housing investment.
“Regional Australians deserve the same opportunity to access housing as those living in our capital cities.
“Our $5 billion Housing Infrastructure Fund will unlock more homes by investing in the infrastructure needed to get them built, with $1.5 billion dedicated to rural and regional Australia.”
Nationals Leader Matt Canavan said housing was one of the biggest barriers to the future prosperity of regional communities.
“Regional Australia is the answer to our housing shortages,” Senator Canavan said.
“We can't just keep stacking people up in our major cities without losing the Australian dream.
“That dream should include a backyard big enough to play cricket in, and regional Australia offers that hope.
“With more than half of Australia's population living in just five cities, it is time to develop the rest of our nation. The only way we end up with a shortage of land in a country as big as Australia is if we fail to invest in the massive opportunity of regional Australia.”
Mr Willcox said local councils were being placed in an increasingly difficult position as the demands on them grew while their revenue base remained limited.
“Councils are being asked to build the foundations for growth, but they have the smallest revenue base of the three levels of government.
“Mackay Regional Council's Financial Assistance Grants funding has reduced by more than $27 million since 2016, according to its latest budget figures.
“That is money that could have helped councils invest in the infrastructure needed to support new homes and growing communities.
“The Federal Government cannot keep downloading responsibility to councils while providing less funding to meet it.”
Mr Willcox said the housing shortage was not simply a problem for people looking for somewhere to rent, it was increasingly a barrier to attracting workers and growing the regional economy.
“If a nurse, teacher, tradesperson or young family cannot find an affordable place to live in Dawson, eventually they will look somewhere else.
“That means housing is not just a social issue, it is an economic issue.
“Businesses cannot expand if they cannot attract workers. Industries cannot grow if workers have nowhere to live.
“We need to stop thinking about housing as simply putting roofs over people's heads. Housing is the infrastructure of economic growth.”
Mr Willcox said the Coalition would continue pushing for investment that allowed regional communities to grow without placing an unfair burden on local ratepayers.
“People in Dawson should not have to choose between paying more rent and leaving the community they call home,” he said.
“We need more homes, more infrastructure and more certainty for the councils responsible for delivering it.”
The Coalition’s broader housing plan will:
Invest $5 billion in housing infrastructure, including at least $1.5 billion guaranteed for regional Australia, to unlock up to 400,000 homes.
Reserve the 5 per cent deposit scheme for Australian citizens, ensuring taxpayer-backed housing assistance puts Australians first.
Slash unnecessary red tape in the National Construction Code, while maintaining core safety standards, saving up to $70,000 on the cost of a new home.
Axe Labor’s housing taxes, which would otherwise cost Australia at least 35,000 new homes.
Cap migration to housing completions, so the number of people coming to Australia does not keep running ahead of the homes we can build.
ENDS
Contact: Amanda Wright | Media & Communications Adviser
P | 07 4944 0662 M | 0455 456 705 E | Amanda.Wright@aph.gov.au