By Marcus Uhe
The Greens and Labor candidates for the Federal Seat of Holt have spoken out on cost of living pressures and housing stress ahead of May’s Federal Election.
Greens candidate Sujit Mathew believes the current private housing market is due for a rethink, with the Greens proposing a billionaires tax on high-income earners and “winding back unfair tax breaks“ on people who own two or more properties.
The tax would allow for the creation of one million new public housing homes over the next 20 years and ”new good quality homes” in desirable areas for renters, first home buyers and those locked out of housing, priced at $300,000.
The investment in public housing would cut waiting lists and create 135,000 new construction jobs in the process, Mr Mathew said.
“As a resident of the outer South East for many years, I’ve seen it go from a place where almost anyone could afford to buy to one where rent is beyond the reach of some people,” Mr Mathew said.
“Throughout the decades, governments have rigged the private housing market by offering tax breaks to big developers and property speculators.
“Housing should be for all, not just the few.”
As part of their Liveable Income Guarantee announced in March, income support payments will be increased to $88 per day from July 2023, the current poverty line, and bench marked against the Henderson Poverty Line biannually from then on, to ensure that everyone can cover basic essential needs.
Mr Mathew also pledged his party would restore status resolution support service (SRSS) payments for people living on temporary visas or in community detention awaiting assessment on their refugee status, to the same rate as JobSeeker payments.
He said the issue was one of significance to the electorate.
“In Holt, the plight of asylum seekers who have to eke out a living while they wait for their asylum cases to be finalised is of particular concern,” Mr Mathew said.
“Along with a basic living allowance, the SRSS program also provided casework support for housing, as well as trauma and torture counselling.
“The Greens will restore the SRSS at the same rate as JobSeeker, to ensure all recent arrivals can fully participate and integrate with Australian communities.”
Meanwhile a Federal Labor Government would develop and implement a National Housing and Homelessness Plan to address the severe housing crisis, Labor candidate Cassandra Fernando has said.
The Plan would coincide with Labor’s $10 billion off-budget Housing Australia Future Fund, which will build 20,000 social housing properties, including 4000 for women and children fleeing domestic and family violence and older women on low incomes who are at risk of homelessness.
Some 10,000 affordable housing properties would also be made available for frontline workers.
Ms Fernando said that everyday costs such as petrol, rent and child care are increasing the pressure on South East residents.
“People in my community tell me that the rising cost of living is a major concern, and that includes the rising costs of housing,” Ms Fernando said.
“There is no easy fix, but it does require leadership from the Federal Government.
“An Albanese Labor Government will deliver more secure jobs, better pay and a fairer system.”
Further plans to east cost of living pressures by a Labor Government include reducing the cost of child care, power bills and creating more secure well-paid jobs, Ms Fernando said.
Labor’s Powering Australia plan will cut power bills across the National Electricity Market by $275 a year for homes by 2025, while 465,000 Free TAFE places will be made available over the next four years for those studying in areas of skill shortage.
Both the Liberal and Palmer United candidates were contacted for comment.
