Towards an Australian Housing and Homelessness Strategy: understanding national approaches in contemporary policy

Abstract

Australia should have a Housing and Homelessness Strategy with a mission: everyone in Australia has adequate housing. Housing and homelessness problems are complex. They can be addressed with an ambitious, mission-oriented reform agenda and the Australian Government using the national money for the public good. Australia’s system of concurrent federalism requires intergovernmental cooperation. A mission-oriented Housing and Homelessness Strategy could revitalise stalled discussions about institutions and principles for cooperation. At both levels of government, responsibility for housing policy making is fragmented. Where conceptualised as a welfare issue, policy development has languished. The National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation (NHFIC) is developing its expertise. The national financial regulators arguably conduct their own housing policy. No template is provided by other national approaches to policy in Australia. Experience shows strategy-making is itself a strategic process of building a constituency for reform. International obligations are a good place to start. Dedicated lead agencies and accountability are vital. International experience shows the value of a broadly scoped approach to housing policy, and of dedicated housing agencies. An Australian Housing and Homelessness Strategy should: encompass the core areas of social housing and homelessness, and new core areas of housing assistance, tenancy law, residential building quality align housing-related taxation, finance, planning and development with the Strategy mission articulate with other relevant policy areas. The Strategy should have a statutory basis, enshrining the right to adequate housing, nominating Housing Australia as the lead agency, and establishing regulatory and accountability agencies.