Chapman says parties are ‘asleep at the wheel’ as South West named least affordable region to rent in WA
Independent for Forrest Dr Sue Chapman has said housing is the number one issue that voters are sharing with her when she knocks on their door and meets them at community events.
“Our region needs a representative willing to knock on every door in Parliament House to ensure we solve the housing crisis we’re facing right now,” Dr Chapman said.
“The number of people across our communities struggling to find, and keep, a roof over their heads is growing, including many essential workers. At the same time, more and more properties are listed as short-term rentals. We need a common-sense approach that restores fairness and curbs generational inequality in the housing market.
“Forrest is the most unaffordable electorate to find a rental in regional WA. I’m prepared to do the hard work to put locals needing an affordable home ahead of tourists on short stays.”
Data recently released by Anglicare Australia shows Forrest is the least affordable electorate for individuals and families to rent in regional Western Australia, with 0 per cent affordability for anyone on income support payments – including the aged pension and singles on the minimum wage.
According to the Real Estate Institute of WA (REIWA), only 111 rentals were available across the entire South West last week. Yet more than 200 properties were sitting empty and available for short-term rental online.
To tackle the housing crisis locally, Dr Chapman has proposed revising tax breaks for property investors, incentivising the return of holiday homes to the long-term rental market, penalties for developers who are land banking and keeping properties vacant, as well as an ambitious fund to unlock land to increase housing supply.
“I’m pursuing a $2 billion Regional Housing Infrastructure Fund to build the critical enabling infrastructure needed to connect new homes to sewerage, water, power and road access,” Dr Chapman said.
“We have a housing supply issue. We need to build more homes, but we cannot build our way out of this crisis when build times for a standard home exceed one year and we’re held back because there’s no funding for basic infrastructure.
“Meeting the housing needs of our regional communities will not be solved overnight nor with one simple fix. We need to use all the levers at our disposal.
“The major parties have been asleep at the wheel on housing for three decades.
“Labor is pumping billions of dollars into increasing supply but not one cent is guaranteed to flow to regional and rural Australia. The South West is competing with Perth to see any of that federal housing funding.
“On the other side, the Liberal Party are telling first-home buyers they need to empty their superannuation funds to get a home deposit together.
“These are policies written in party headquarters in East Coast capital cities, with little consideration to the unique context of the housing crisis in the South West.
“As an Independent, I am accountable only to the people of Forrest. I don’t answer to vested interests or property developers.
“I’m ready to fight for Forrest to ensure we get our fair share of federal housing funding. I’m putting people before profits, because everyone deserves a safe, secure place to call home.”
ENDS
Media Contact
Cade Smith
[email protected]
0408 997 003