National housing campaign Everybody's Home has acknowledged the federal government's housing measures in tonight's budget but warns they fail to tackle the scale of the crisis.
With housing stress and homelessness deepening as sky-high rents continue to price Australians out, Everybody's Home is urging all parties to deliver bold, ambitious commitments ahead of the election.
Everybody's Home spokesperson Maiy Azize said: "This federal budget has measures that may make housing more affordable for a small number of people but it doesn't deliver solutions that will make housing more affordable for everybody.
"Expanding the Help to Buy scheme may help some, but it will not move the needle on the housing crisis which is affecting millions of Australians.
"The housing crisis is deepening and hurting more and more Australians. We need a response that matches the scale of the crisis. We need leaders that will take bold leaps forward.
"The election is an opportunity for the federal government to offer the ambitious, visionary, and transformative solutions that voters are crying out for.
"Polling shows Australians want the federal government to prioritise funding affordable homes over tax breaks for investors. Voters are open to winding back negative gearing and the CGT discount, and they want the government to build much more public and community housing. Without strong leadership and bold solutions, demand for social housing is expected to reach nearly one million homes in less than two decades.
"This is a cost-of-living election and the biggest cost to Australians is housing. Every Australian deserves a safe, decent, affordable place to call home - that requires a government that will end the massive social housing shortfall, scrap tax breaks for property investors, protect renters from unfair rent rises, and increase Centrelink payments."
