Prioritising homes for locals instead of investment properties
Twenty years ago, it was possible for young couples and essential workers to build lives in the South West on a single income. Today, most households have two incomes and they still can’t scrape together the deposit they need to plant roots without help from mum and dad.
The major parties at all levels of government have proven they're too close to property developers to deliver real change. As an Independent, I’ll spearhead housing policy that works for our regional communities, without influence from developers.
House prices and rental shortages are locking young professionals, nurses and teachers out of the housing market. These workers are essential to our communities. It’s unaffordable to live in the towns they grew up in despite having good jobs and wanting to build their lives there.
Here’s what the housing crisis looks like in the South West:
- Families sharing a rental because of a lack of rental properties
- Single mums dropping kids at school after spending the night sleeping in their car
- Young professionals with good jobs living with their parents into their thirties because they can’t find an affordable rental or scrape together enough for a home loan deposit
- Essential workers turning down critical jobs because they can’t find anywhere to live
- Aged care facilities using nursing quarters with shared bathrooms to house staff
- Short-term rentals and investment properties sitting vacant
- New housing projects stalled due to lack of infrastructure funding
As your Independent MP, I’m committed to:
Increasing federal investment in social and affordable housing
The South West needs dedicated funding for housing that essential workers can afford. I will fight for a Regional Housing Investment Fund to build new social and affordable housing across our region. This includes advocating for partnerships with community housing providers and local governments to ensure developments meet community needs.
Reforming developer regulations
Unrestricted development is destroying both affordability and livability. I will push for stronger oversight of property developers, including enforcement of mandatory affordable housing targets in new developments and stronger environmental protection standards. This includes requirements for community infrastructure and green space in all major developments.
Supporting first home buyers
Young people deserve a fair chance to enter the housing market. I will champion expanded support for first home buyers, including regional-specific programs that recognise the unique challenges in our community. This includes advocating for expanded shared equity schemes and deposit support programs targeted at essential workers.
Creating a Regional Infrastructure Fund
Critical infrastructure like sewerage, and connections for water and electricity are essential to enabling new homes to be built. Regional areas have been left behind when it comes to funding this type of infrastructure needed to kickstart housing projects. I’m backing a $2 billion Regional Housing Infrastructure Fund to help unlock areas that local councils have already earmarked for housing projects in the South West.
Rebalancing the incentives for short-term rentals
The proliferation of short-term holiday rentals is impacting rental availability in tourist areas like Margaret River and Dunsborough. I want to see reforms that encourage the return of houses to the long term rental market . I’ll also support penalties for developers who are land banking or deliberately keeping suitable rental properties vacant. Locals must have a home before tourists have a holiday house.
Everyone deserves an affordable, secure place to call home.