REPORT ON HOUSING ASSISTANCE
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MINORITY REPORT BY AUSTRALIAN DEMOCRATS SENATOR LYN ALLISON
Preamble
In November 1996 the Australian Democrats initiated this Inquiry into
Housing Assistance in Australia. The Democrats believed that the model
of housing reform proposed at the time by the Howard Government was not
designed to address the growing housing crisis within the community. In
addition, and in view of the breakdown in negotiations between the Commonwealth
and State governments over the future of this reform, we believed that
there needed to be a forum where all levels of government and representatives
of both housing and community groups could present their concerns and
ideas before major housing policy changes were undertaken by the Federal
Government. While we endorse the majority report we would like to make
the following additional comments.
Commonwealth-State Responsibilities
The Commonwealth State Housing Agreement provides as essential framework
for the development of a national housing policy based on clearly defined
proposals and specific outcomes. The Democrats strongly believe however,
that a National Housing Strategy should be established which would not
only better define respective State and Commonwealth roles and responsibilities
but would include a joint government commitment to specific outcomes.
The majority report incorporates what we would regard as the central
features of this strategy including the continuation of both the Commonwealth
State Housing Agreement and involvement of both the Commonwealth and State
governments, continuation of the rent assistance program and capital funding
for public housing, and recognition of the need for more research. However
our concern is that there is no specific framework which unites all these
factors into a single comprehensive and cohesive national housing strategy
and which will provide a guideline for policy formulation in the future.
The Democrats believe that such a strategy would allow for input and
participation from all sectors of government and representatives of the
housing industry and community organisations.
Local Government
Local Governments are in the unique position of being able to facilitate
the provision of low cost housing at the local level by encouraging partnerships
with and between private developers, community groups and with State Governments.
Councils can influence local planning laws to encourage private developers
to invest, identify suitable properties for community housing projects
and can undertake more corporate roles such as direct purchase of land
for housing purposes and the management of housing assets. The Australian
Local Government Association noted in their submission that local government
tends to get most involved with housing provision in those areas of the
greatest market failure and therefore their contribution to housing assistance
should not be disregarded.
While the Democrats recognise that involvement in housing by Local Government
is by no means uniform and that it may not be appropriate for the Australian
Local Government Association to be a formal partner in the Commonwealth
State Housing Agreement, we do support a continuing role for local governments
in housing provision and believe that involvement by local government
should be facilitated by State and Commonwealth governments much more
than is presently the case, particularly in relation to policy development.
The Democrats also regard it as highly desirable that local government
be involved in future housing task forces, as suggested by the ALGA.
Quoting from the ALGA's Housing Policy:
Local government needs to be fully involved in the formulation of regional,
State and national housing policies and programs, and in the negotiation
of relevant intergovernmental agreements.
An essential pre-requisite for the further development of Local Government's
roles in housing is that the extent and value of existing functions and
involvement be properly recognised by the Commonwealth and the States.
Only if such recognition is granted will Local Government feel encouraged
and empowered to expand their involvement.
Recommendation: The Democrats recommend that a housing task
force be established to assist with the development of a National Housing
Strategy and that local government has a role in both its policy development
and implementation.
Consultation with the Community
It is desirable that peak organisations participate in the formulation
of a National Housing Strategy. The Democrats support the input of peak
organisations such as the ALGA, ATSIC, ACOSS, and the Real Estate Institute
of Australia and other national organisations representing, among others,
people with disabilities, the aged, and migrants into this process.
As an extension to this we believe that the Commonwealth Government should
resume its funding for National Shelter, given that this organisation
represents around 700 housing organisations around the country and its
essential role in the development of housing policy at state and federal
level.
Recommendation: That the Commonwealth resume funding arrangements
for National Shelter, Australia's peak housing organisation, and encourage
the participation of other national peak organisations representing a
variety of interests into the planning of national housing policy.
Housing and Homelessness
In the majority report the Committee recommends that there be better
coordination between the SAAP program and other community services to
allow SAAP clients better access into either public housing or the private
market. The Australian Democrats support this recommendation but would
argue that it would still fall short of addressing the needs of the homeless.
Homelessness is on the increase and we believe this serious issue warrants
the delivery of a specific strategy to reverse this trend. While direct
delivery of services for homeless people should continue to be a joint
Commonwealth and State responsibility through the Supported Accommodation
Assistance Program, it is clear that the Commonwealth Government needs
to provide initiatives for the needs of the homelessness to be addressed
in a more comprehensive fashion.
ACOSS gave evidence that 50% of homeless people are turned away from
crisis accommodation services and that current levels of funding are insufficient.
An adequate network of crisis facilities is essential as the first step
towards reducing the incidence of homeless within the community. Therefore
the Democrats support the ACOSS call for a 10% increase in base funding
for the SAAP program, to be matched by State Governments.
A necessary second strategy will focus on improving both access and affordability
of housing for homeless people within the framework of the Commonwealth
State Housing Agreement. There needs to be closer integration between
SAAP and other programs linked to the Commonwealth State Housing Agreement
to facilitate the movement of people who have been in crisis accommodation
towards finding more stable and permanent housing arrangements.
It is essential that the Commonwealth Government continue to fund the
States via the CSHA, target rent assistance to homeless people and encourage
the States towards more fair and equitable State tenancies acts. The Council
to Homeless Persons has suggested an audit of current Crisis Accommodation
Program (CAP) and SAAP housing stock with a view to increasing stock numbers
managed by State Housing Authorities. This could be achieved either by
headleasing stock from the private market or in direct State government
acquisition.
Recommendation: That the allocation of funding for the SAAP program
be increased by 10% to make up for the current shortfall in crisis accommodation
and a specific strategy to reduce homelessness be incorporated into the
National Housing Strategy.
SENATOR LYN ALLISON
Senator for Victoria
10 December 1997
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