Independent Federal Member for Indi Helen Haines is introducing legislation to the Parliament to help ensure regional Australia gets a fair share of Commonwealth housing funding.
In the second last sitting week of federal Parliament for the year, Dr Haines urged the two major parties to back regional Australia with dedicated funding to support new housing.
Dr Haines’ Fair Share for Regional Housing Bill would do five things:
- Require the Minister to plan for Housing Australia to distribute at least 30% of its funds each year to projects in regional, rural and remote Australia and report on this to the Parliament.
- Legislate that an objective of Housing Australia and the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) is to address the housing needs of people in regional, rural and remote Australia, putting a requirement on Government to act
- Provides absolute certainty that local governments and water corporations are eligible for HAFF for critical enabling infrastructure and should be supported by Housing Australia
- Requires Housing Australia’s Annual Reports to set out the amount of funding distributed to each State and Territory, to each Council and water corporation, and to each area of regional, rural and remote Australia
- Makes clear than critical enabling infrastructure is eligible for HAFF funding.
“I’m worried that both major parties are focused too much on the cities when it comes to solving the housing crisis, and that the regions are at risk of being left behind. That’s why as an Independent, I’m introducing a bill to fix it,” said Dr Haines.
“I’ve been a consistent advocate for Government action that reflects the reality in regional, rural and remote Australia.
“The sad reality is that for an entire generation of Australians, home ownership – or even a secure rental – feels out of reach and unattainable, and this is keenly felt in regional areas.”
Dr Haines said rural, regional and remote communities need support to build the infrastructure that will unlock new housing and that regional councils could no longer carry the burden of funding on their own.
“Regional Australia experiences the housing crisis differently to the cities, but we’re competing for the same pool of funding.
“Despite more than $30 billion in new housing commitments from this Government, there are no initiatives specifically focussed on increasing the supply of new homes in the regions.
“We need to amend key housing legislation to ensure local government and water corporations can tap into funding to deliver the pipes, paths and poles that unlock new housing developments.
“This Bill will equip regional Australia to tackle the housing crisis head on – to build the homes that will support our regions for years and decades to come.”
The National Regional Housing Summit 2024 highlighted the constraints on local governments and small communities to deliver the support infrastructure needed to meeting housing needs in regional areas. Key recommendations from the summit, facilitated by the Regional Australia Institute include a call for policy insights to be laser focused on delivering new homes in regional Australia.
The Regional Australia Institute has been pushing for the policy that will develop and deepen regional rental markets and rental housing, including social and affordable housing; ensuring a pipeline of development-ready land; and a greater mix of housing in regions, including medium density dwellings.
Comments from Liz Ritchie, Chief Executive Officer, Regional Australia Institute:
“Regional Australia stands on the precipice of so much opportunity. Concurrently, the regions are experiencing a surge in population and will lead the nation’s net zero transformation, but without adequate foundations – like access to housing – these opportunities will be lost. Dedicated and targeted funding must be established for rural and regional Australia and a mandate to report on progress is well overdue.”
“Nearly 9.8 million people call regional Australia home, and many more want to move. The regions should not be an afterthought, they need to be front of mind. Housing in regional Australia has been a pressure point for many years, and it is vital there is policy in place that recognises what works in Sydney won’t necessarily work in Shepparton or St George.”
“Regional Australia is not homogenous and policy solutions that cater to the unique markets that exist across communities of different sizes will be critical in ensuring those who want to live in the regions, can.”
ENDS