Following on from the Local Government and Housing project’s research, ALGA now has an advocacy position on housing and homelessness and this is detailed in their recently released election document entitled All politics is local.
ALGA’s 12 Federal Election Initiatives are:
Initiative 1: Repair federal funding to local government
Initiative 2: Realise the productive potential of Australia’s freight routes
Initiative 3: Boost safety on local roads
Initiative 4: Promote equitable access to community services
Initiative 5: Protect communities from the impacts of natural disasters
Initiative 6: Support communities with their climate change response
Initiative 7: Promote healthier communities
Initiative 8: Foster Indigenous well-being and prosperity
Initiative 9: Support communities on their digital transformation journeys
Initiative 10: Strengthen Australia’s circular economy
Initiative 11: Support local government’s current work in addressing affordable housing and homelessness issues
Initiative 12: Address the South Australian road funding anomaly
Notable is Initiative 11 which specifically relates to housing and homelessness and echoes issues being explored by project investigators. These issues are articulated on page 28 of ALGA’s election document:
What is the issue?
The lack of affordable rental properties and affordable home ownership is causing significant social and economic impacts in Australia’s cities and regions.
Why is this important for communities?
Homelessness and housing stress can profoundly affect the mental and physical health of individuals and families, as well as impact on their education and employment opportunities and their ability to participate fully in the community.
Further, ALGA proposes that these issues should be addressed by:
- Reinstating a national governance model to address affordable housing and homelessness, that includes local government.
- Acknowledging local government’s role in housing with appropriate funding including for innovative partnership models on housing.
All politics is local can be downloaded here:
