[Greens-Media] Stop passing the buck and spend it on housing

[Kerrie Tucker - media]

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MEDIA RELEASE Kerrie Tucker ACT Greens for the Senate
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Mon 17 Sept 07


Stop passing the buck and spend it on housing.

Greens Senate Candidate for the ACT Kerrie Tucker will join activists and
artists with painted cardboard houses and placards at City Hill, from 8:00am
today to emphasise the need to think outside the box on housing issues, and
call on the Federal Government to accept responsibility for its part in the
crisis affordable housing.

"The unaffordability of housing affects almost everyone, and federal
government policies are a part of the problem" Ms Tucker said today.
  
 ³The Federal Government needs to review all taxes, grants and concessions
including negative gearing, Capital Gains Tax exemptions and First Home
Owners Grants to assess their impact on the housing market."

"Federal government economic policies currently stimulate investment at the
top end of the market which has been a factor in the affordability crisis we
now have."  
 
Ms Tucker called for the major parties to commit to a National Affordable
Housing Plan. [see below]

"Housing is a basic human need. It is the fundamental base from which people
can move out of poverty through education, employment, proper health care
and nutrition and community inclusion" Ms Tucker said.
 
"Lack of housing affordability feeds into social problems including
homelessness, poverty, crime, and family instability."

"Public housing availability is declining across the country, and housing
authorities are going broke. Rent assistance is not keeping up with private
rents and must be reviewed."

"We are seeing an increase in the number of people living in housing stress,
including students, single parent households, people with disability and
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. In Canberra it is estimated
around 1200 people are homeless at any time. Around 800 of whom are under
24." 

"It is time to stop passing the buck and spend it on housing" Ms Tucker
said.  


Media contact Roland Manderson 041 224 1379
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Proposed National Affordable Housing Plan

Ms Tucker is calling for the next federal government to work with the States
to develop an evidence based National Affordable Housing Plan which:

·   includes financial mechanisms such as taxes and incentives to promote
investment in affordable housing;
·   structures affordable housing into all levels of planning;
·   is informed by a definition of affordable housing based on after housing
costs income levels;
·   mandates affordability objectives to 20% of all new developments; and
·   radically improves accessibility and energy and water use efficiency in
all residential building stock;
·   incorporates evaluation of all affordable housing initiatives;
 
A National Affordable Housing Plan should support the role of public and
community housing and be informed by genuine community consultation and
representation. 
 
Ms Tucker emphasised the need for a National Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islanders Housing Strategy which is informed by the principle of community
control. 
 
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ACT Greens 8-10 Hobart Place Canberra City ACT 2601
ph: 6247 6305 fax: 6247 6455
kerrie.tucker at greens.org.au
www.greens.org.au 
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