The Council of Social Service of NSW (NCOSS) and Shelter NSW have called on NSW Opposition leader, Peter Debnam, to rethink his NSW Housing Rescue Strategy if it is to deliver any tangible benefits to the 265,000 NSW households in housing stress.
‘Today’s announcement puts urban sprawl, the McMansion dream and developer’s profit margins well above the desperate need for affordable housing across Greater Sydney and in our regional cities,’ said NCOSS Director, Gary Moore.
‘It places a very poor second, the opportunities of transforming larger dwellings, closer to jobs and transport, to smaller homes that reflect the rapidly shrinking household size.’
‘For those in most housing stress, in private rental, or at the bottom of the home ownership market, the Opposition’s proposal is marginal,’ said Mary Perkins, Executive Officer, Shelter NSW.
‘The belief that a trickle down from further payroll tax cuts and slashing land tax and stamp duties will massively improve prices, at a time when interest rates are on the rise and there is little investment in lower cost housing, is overly optimistic.’
‘It is true that exemptions from WorkCover premiums for building employers will help attract new apprentices. But even here, the Opposition fails to target greater State Government action with available Commonwealth funding to enable disadvantaged young people to gain employment and help reduce significant skills shortages,’ added Mr Moore.
‘Our organizations have suggested to Peter Debnam that he commit to full land tax and stamp duty exemptions for private investors who provide low cost rental housing close to jobs and transport.’
‘We have urged him to immediately talk with his Commonwealth counterparts about providing, as is the case in the US, UK and other parts of Europe, tax concessions to superannuation funds that invest in affordable housing developments.’
‘We have also asked Mr Debnam to commit to funding an infrastructure program for major urban renewal sites, and not just assume that existing localities have the infrastructure to sustain major new residential developments.
‘And we have asked the NSW Opposition to include our organizations, along with Landcom and the NSW Department of Housing, in his proposed Roundtable discussions.’
Contacts: Gary Moore, NCOSS, 0407 567408 (m); 9211 2599 (w)
Mary Perkins, Shelter NSW, 0419 919091 (m); 9267 5733 (w)
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