Mayor calls for crisis response to housing crisis
Homelessness in Queensland has increased by 22 per cent and Whitsunday Regional Council has moved into strong advocacy mode by calling on the Australian Government to extend the deadline for the operation of the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS).
At today’s ordinary meeting in Bowen, Mayor Julie Hall and Councillors voted unanimously to submit a motion to the Australian Local Government Association for potential inclusion in the National General Assembly 2023 Business Papers.
The full motion to be submitted is: “This National General Assembly calls on the Australian Government to extend the deadline for the operation of the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS) to allow communities to plan for the future in managing the current circumstances being exacerbated by the national accommodation shortages across the majority of Australia.”
Mayor Hall said the fact that the rise in homelessness in Queensland was almost three times the national increase meant families were in crisis and counting on all tiers of government to do something.
“A recent report by the Queensland Council of Social Service revealed 300,000 people across Queensland are experiencing housing insecurity amid soaring rental prices and inadequate social housing supply,” she said.
“As an elected advocate for our Whitsunday community, I am committed to creating a region where everyone should have access to safe, secure, and affordable housing.
“Unfortunately, many families and individuals in our community are currently struggling to find affordable rental accommodation, and this is a problem that needs urgent attention from the top tiers of government,” Mayor Hall said.
“One program that has been successful in addressing this issue is the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS).
“This scheme provides incentives to property investors to build and rent out affordable housing, helping to increase the supply of rental properties and lower rental prices.
“However, this program is set to expire soon on a staggered shut down, and I believe that we must advocate strongly for its extension.”
Mayor Hall said she was contacted recently by a resident who said he would be homeless in June as well as his 82-year-old neighbour because the NRAS will end for them, and they can’t afford the 30 per cent increase in their rent.
“Families, couples and singles are counting on the Federal and State governments to act and it breaks my heart that homelessness is on the rise,” she said.
“This is a crisis and deserves a crisis response. In the decade leading up to 2017, there was "minimal" investment by state and federal governments in affordable and social housing.
"Unless then halls of power can get a grip on the situation, it's a problem that will pass on to the next generation leading to poor liveability.”
Mayor Hall said the housing shortage and rental crisis are not issues that emerged overnight so there are no “quick fixes” that will see the problem disappear.
“Advocacy on behalf of my community to ensure they are not forgotten will be key as it is going to take a whole range of short, medium and long-term solutions to fix this crisis,” she said.
“I’ll be calling on the top two tiers of government for significant funding and some bold decision-making because people are hurting, and we need to act now.
“There have been a handful of welcome announcements from the Australian and Queensland government that have started the wheels turning.
“The NRAS has been successful in our region and has helped many families and individuals to find affordable housing, and we must ensure that this support continues.
“By extending the NRAS, we can continue to create opportunities for our residents to secure affordable housing, and we can also support our local economy by encouraging investment in our region.”