Thursday, 1 August 2024

Housing affordability

Renee HEATH (Eastern Victoria) (18:48): (1027) Since Labor came to government there have been 55 new or increased taxes, and around 30 of those have been on homes and properties. Victorians are struggling to deal with the heavy weight of Labor’s financial mismanagement. Rental providers seem to be fleeing the state, rental costs are surging and we are experiencing record low vacancy rates. It is a housing crisis of Labor’s making.

A recent report on affordability listed Pakenham as one of the least affordable suburbs in Victoria, with the average tenant spending more than a third of their total income on rent. In the past two years median rental costs in the area have increased by nearly 50 per cent. For those on pensions or on a minimum wage it is almost impossible to get into a property, because it is just becoming more and more unaffordable for them. So my adjournment is for the Minister for Housing, and the action that I seek is for the minister to outline her plan for ensuring that residents of Pakenham have access to secure and affordable housing.