[Greens-Media] (Sylvia Hale MLC) South Australia leaves NSW behind with 15% affordable housing target

[Christopher Holley]

South Australia leaves NSW behind with 15% affordable housing target

The NSW government should follow the lead of its South Australian
counterpart in taking action to stop the worsening crisis in housing
affordability, according to Sylvia Hale, Greens MLC and Housing
spokesperson.

Ms Hale today pointed to a new South Australian law setting a target of
15% affordable housing in new developments. 

“The SA law is a big step in the right direction. South Australian
Greens MP, Mark Parnell, supported and strengthened it through measures
such as placing covenants on affordable homes to ensure they remain
affordable when resold."

 “The SA legislation lays the framework for affordable housing
targets of 15% of new developments, including 5% high needs housing. A
variety of home ownership supply schemes are being developed.

“It is not just SA that’s trying new things”, Ms Hale said.
“The Victorian housing minister recently flagged that his
government is proposing to offer incentives to superannuation funds to
invest in social and community housing. 

“With housing affordability out of control in our State, the
government must consider these options for NSW. Instead we see the
Treasurer encouraging people into shared equity arrangements with the
banks just to gain a foothold, a move that may simply encourage more
house price inflation.

“We need to be adopting bolder approaches to housing affordability.

“I have prepared a draft Bill that I intend to introduce in the NSW
parliament. The Greens’ Environmental Planning and Assessment
Amendment  (Affordable Housing Development Contributions) Bill adopts
the same approach as the new SA law,” concluded Ms Hale.

Contact: Chris Holley 9230 3030 / 0437 779 546