[Greens-Media] Housing affordability crisis undermining the future of northwest communities

[Twomey, Chris (Sen R. Siewert)]

Housing affordability crisis undermining the future of northwest
communities  

"The lack of affordability of housing in our regional centres is driving
a social crisis that is undermining the viability of our regional
communities," said Senator Rachel Siewert today.

Today the Senate inquiry into Affordable Housing is visiting Karratha -
one of a number of regional centres where sky-rocketing rents are
undermining social services and forcing retirees to move away from town.

"The rate of the resources boom in the Northwest has so far outstripped
the development of our regional infrastructure that, rather than
building up our regional centres, the demand for housing from cashed-up
miners is creating unsustainable communities."

"The people who provide the social services that support these growing
communities - such as teachers, nurses and social workers - cannot
afford to live in town."

"All of the supports that regional families need to support life in the
northwest are drying up," said Senator Siewert.

"At the same time we have heard from retirees - who have grown and been
the very life blood of these communities - that the spiralling cost of
living means that they simply cannot afford to retire in town," she
said.

"We need much greater investment in both affordable housing and social
infrastructure in our regional centres to ensure that we are growing
sustainable communities, not locking ourselves into a boom and bust
scenario," concluded Senator Siewert.

For more information or comment call Chris Twomey on 0407 725 025


Chris Twomey
Personal Advisor
Senator Rachel Siewert
Australian Greens Senator for Western Australia
Perth: 08 9228 3277 Canberra: 02 6277 3587
mobile: 0407 725 025
http://www.rachelsiewert.org.au