Peak council and housing body’s have welcomed the return of the Albanese Federal Labor Government vowing to continue working with them for better outcomes for Local Councils and Communities.
Australian Local Government Association President Mayor Matt Burnett said over the past three years, the Albanese Government had listened to local government concerns, and partnered with councils to deliver new and increased funding and he hoped to see more in the future.
While the Real Estate Industry of Queesnland and Housing Industry Association (HIA) both said they stood ready to collaborate with the newly re-elected Government to ensure all Australians have access to a secure and affordable home.
“We thank the Government for responding to the poor state of our local roads by permanently doubling Roads to Recovery funding from $500 million to $1 billion per year, while also increasing Black Spot funding,” Mayor Burnett said.
“To protect our communities from increasingly frequent and severe fires, floods and cyclones, the Government also established a new $200 million per year Disaster Ready Fund (DRF), which has been strongly embraced by councils.
“Recognising the key role councils play in reducing emissions, they created a new $100 million Community Energy Upgrades Fund.
“However our biggest challenge is our ongoing financial sustainability, and we were pleased the Government launched a Parliamentary inquiry into this issue and released an interim report earlier this year.
“ALGA looks forward to working with the next Australian Government on the inquiry’s final recommendations and delivering improvements that will support every council and community across the nation. Councils stand ready to deliver national priorities, but we need sustainable funding.
“We believe this work should be progressed through National Cabinet, which the Government returned ALGA to in 2022.”
Mayor Burnett said as Australia’s important third tier of government, councils are committed to building stronger federal/local government partnerships.
“When the Albanese Government invited ALGA to attend National Cabinet, and relaunched the Australian Council of Local Government, it brought councils back to the table and recognised us as a valued partner,” Mayor Burnett said.
“Local perspectives support better national decision making, and we look forward to working with the next Government to ensure the needs of every community are considered and met.”
REIQ CEO Antonia Mercorella congratulated the re-elected Labor Federal Government, saying a clear majority and a consecutive term bring a vital opportunity to see rubber hit the road for housing.
She said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, now Australia’s 32nd Prime Minister, had an historic opportunity to tackle the housing crisis with renewed momentum and political capital.
Mercorella said the stability offered by a majority government, combined with longevity of term to see policies to fruition and the end of election uncertainty, provides a critical window for meaningful housing reform.
“A second term of Government is a gift. With a majority and momentum, Australians rightly expect to see swift and decisive action to get roofs over heads,” she said.
“With a policy platform that focuses on first home buyers and includes the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund, a new $10 billion fund to build 100,000 homes for first home buyers, the Help to Buy shared equity scheme, and expanded guarantees for first home buyers, Labor has laid important groundwork.
“Importantly, this is coupled with housing construction apprentice incentives and $78 million to fast track the qualification of 6,000 tradies to help build more homes.
“It’s time to move beyond planning and start delivering on the housing front – and the REIQ stands ready to support initiatives that tangibly increase housing supply, ownership, and access.”
It is a sentiment echoed by the Housing Industry Association (HIA) who are calling on the newly elected Government to make housing a first-order priority from day one.
“Any delay or political grandstanding will only deepen the nation’s housing crisis,” HIA Managing Director Jocelyn Martin said on Monday after the election.
“HIA would like to congratulate the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese and the ALP for securing its term of government and it looks forward to constructively working with them in the new parliament,” she said.
“We additionally would like to thank Peter Dutton for his two decades of service to the Australian parliament and equally to Michael Sukkar, who has been a key housing advocate in both government and opposition.
“Access to a home — whether to rent or own — is becoming unattainable for too many Australians. This is a challenge that demands a major response in the first days and weeks of the new term of government.
“HIA has been clear throughout the election campaign that all sides of politics must provide bold and courageous leadership to deliver on the nations critical housing shortages and meet the National Housing Accord target of 1.2 million new homes.
“The industry has laid out the plan — through HIA’s Let’s Build agenda — to fast-track planning, unlock land, invest in infrastructure, and build the skilled workforce needed to deliver the homes Australia needs,” said Ms Martin.
“Too often, we see housing policy used as a platform to showboat rather than solve real problems. Australians want practical and meaningful reform. Holding housing legislation hostage to political theatre only pushes the dream of home ownership further out of reach.
Ms Martin also pushed back against any suggestion that the housing crisis lies outside the Federal Government’s remit.
“We’ve heard it too often — that housing and planning is a state issue, or that the Commonwealth has limited levers to pull. That excuse simply doesn’t stack up anymore.
“The Federal Government has the influence, the resources and the leadership role to bring all levels of government together. It can drive the coordinated policy, funding and reform needed to move the dial on supply and affordability — not just tinker at the edges.
“This was reinforced in the election results and with voters outlining housing as a key issue to be addressed as a matter of priority. We urge the new Government and the entire Parliament to work together to implement the solutions already on the table.
“Housing Australians must not become a casualty of politics-as-usual. We can’t afford more years of delay and stalling of key policies being implemented – we need action within weeks not years,” concluded Ms Martin.
