Housing Policy in Australia: A Reform Agenda

Abstract

Drawing on the evidence marshalled throughout the book, this chapter makes the case for fundamental reform of Australia’s housing policy regime and the associated governance of housing to address problems which are now deeply embedded in Australia’s housing system—especially unaffordable housing and growing wealth inequality. High level aims of reform and priority areas for action are proposed. Guiding principles to inform development of a long term comprehensive and cohesive national housing strategy are suggested. These include coordinated national leadership, tackling the causes of unaffordability, restoring tenure-neutral housing policies, rebuilding institutional capacity and prudently phasing reform. A set of short-term reforms with immediate potential to ease the affordable housing shortage and to promote the effective use of the national housing stock are also identified.