Housing Policy
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Home affordability reaches record lows even as real estate prices decline.
Recent data reveals that housing affordability is at an unprecedented low, with households earning $125,000 capable of purchasing only about 10% of homes sold nationwide. The percentage of household income allocated to mortgage repayments has surged to its highest level since 1989, as economic experts warn that the challenge of affordability will persist until there…
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Urgent: Bathla’s Creditors Gather as Company Reveals $3.4 Billion Debt
According to initial reports from administrators during the company’s inaugural creditors’ meeting, Bathla Group has outstanding debts totaling approximately $3.4 billion. This includes around $3.08 billion owed to secured creditors, along with $145 million due to the Australian Taxation Office, $42 million in land tax, and $130 million to other unsecured creditors. The administrators confirmed…
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Chalmers faces scrutiny over housing market concerns as Marles reflects on the lessons from the melon incident.
Welcome back to the latest update on federal politics, where Courtney Gould provides insights into the recent developments occurring within Parliament House. In a dimly lit press conference room, Jim Chalmers engaged with his social media audience, utilizing a selfie camera to discuss the most recent economic statistics. This pre-recorded video served primarily as a…
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Long-term renters confront impending challenges as they approach retirement age.
Jo-Anne Allen is approaching her 67th birthday and should be looking forward to retirement after overcoming a terminal cancer diagnosis. Nearly ten years ago, a liver transplant saved her life, but it also significantly depleted her superannuation funds. As a single mother and grandmother, she finds herself among a growing number of Australians entering retirement…
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South Australia Intensifies Efforts to Address Misuse of Housing Contract Sunset Clauses
The South Australian Parliament is set to receive legislation aimed at safeguarding homebuyers from the misuse of sunset clauses by developers. These clauses currently permit both developers and buyers to terminate contracts if properties are not completed by a specified date. However, there are concerns that some developers exploit these provisions to benefit from rising…
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Could Multi-Generational Living Be the Solution to Our Evolving Housing Crisis?
When Sheena Carter wishes to connect with her daughter or grandchildren, she opts for a more personal approach rather than using a phone or social media. She simply steps out her back door, strolls down a brief garden path, and knocks on her daughter’s door next door. This convenient arrangement, however, was not always the…
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ACT Greens propose bond transfer initiative to eliminate redundancy for relocating tenants.
The ACT Greens have advocated for the adoption of a portable bond scheme in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), similar to recent implementations in Victoria and certain areas of New South Wales. This initiative aims to alleviate the financial burden on renters who often find themselves paying a new bond while awaiting the return of…
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Rising Family Rentals Heighten Risk of Housing Instability for Children
A recent study conducted by researchers from the University of Adelaide reveals that children living in rental accommodations tend to relocate approximately every 2.3 years on average. The findings indicate that nearly 12.5% of children raised in rental housing have changed residences at least ten times by the age of 14. Between 2001 and 2023,…
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Hobart City Council Moves Forward with Prohibition on Entire Home Vacation Rentals
The planning committee of Hobart City Council has given the green light to a proposal aimed at limiting the establishment of new short-stay rentals that occupy entire homes within residential zones. This amendment could prevent approximately 20,000 homes from being converted entirely into visitor accommodations, although it will not impact those already holding permits for…
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Bespoke Residence Offers Outback Family a Spectacular ‘Billion-Dollar’ Perspective
Seated on the veranda of his newly constructed home, Warumungu man Norman Frank Jupurrurla gazes out over the white-roofed buildings of Tennant Creek nestled within the lush Barkly scrubland. “It’s just a billion-dollar view,” he remarks. Mr. Frank’s upbringing was spent in a cramped tin shed that became unbearably hot during the intense summers of…
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Report reveals that home ownership among young Australians has plummeted to its lowest level in 80 years.
According to Anglicare’s latest report, “Falling Behind,” generational disparities are driving an increasing number of young Australians out of the housing market. The study reveals that home ownership rates for individuals aged 25 to 34 have reached an 80-year low. Kasy Chambers, the executive director of Anglicare Australia, has expressed support for the removal of…
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“Single Mother Denied Assistance by Crisis Services Advised to Purchase a Tent”
A single mother of four, Tiffany Emmerson, has reported being denied assistance by multiple local services in Townsville, as she searches for shelter for her family. The Townsville Homelessness and Housing Network has noted a rise in individuals living in vehicles and makeshift homes. In December 2025, after separating from her partner, Emmerson began couch…
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Rental costs in Australia reach 50% of the national average income.
The housing advocacy organization Everybody’s Home has revealed that renting a unit has become a financial burden exceeding 50% of the median take-home pay for a single worker across all Australian capital cities. For individuals earning an annual salary of $70,000, the median rent in Sydney consumes approximately 69% of their weekly earnings. Even in…
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Sydney councillor expresses deep concern over significant shortcomings during surge in short-term rentals.
Deputy Mayor of Sydney, Jess Miller, has expressed that local councils face challenges in enforcing regulations as discussions about a potential ban on short-term rentals are underway. This comes in light of a proposal from Homelessness NSW advocating for a 7.5 percent levy on property owners who utilize platforms like Airbnb and Stayz for rental…
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Residents on High Alert as Vandals Strike Abandoned Government Properties
Residents of a waterfront area in Mountain Creek on the Sunshine Coast are increasingly anxious due to a series of vandalism and trespassing incidents at unoccupied properties. Numerous rental homes are currently vacant, as they are slated for demolition to make way for a significant public transport infrastructure project linked to the upcoming 2032 Olympics.…