25 signatures reached
To: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Julie Collins, and Peter Dutton
SIGN FOR CHANGE: TACKLE AUSTRALIA'S HOUSING CRISIS & HELP THE HOMELESS!
- Median house prices in capital cities have increased by 25% in the past year alone.
- Rental vacancy rates in major cities have plummeted to historic lows, some below 1%.
- Over 122,000 Australians are experiencing homelessness on any given night¹
IMPLICATIONS FOR THE HOUSING CRISIS INCLUDE:
- Housing Costs and Domestic Family Violence (DFV): Soaring rents force not only exasperates DFV, 42% of homelessness service clients to choose between abuse and homelessness¹
- Diverse Homelessness: Unaffordable housing leaves 1 in 7 homeless over 55, and 17,600+ children under 12 without homes¹
- Elder Financial Abuse: High housing costs push vulnerable older Australians, especially women, into financial exploitation¹
- Mental Health Crisis: Expensive, insecure housing breeds anxiety and depression²
- Child Development at Risk: Housing instability due to high costs severely impacts children's well-being, self-esteem, and education³
- Economic Strain: Excessive rent and mortgage payments reduce spending power and limit job mobility, hindering overall productivity
INTERNATIONAL COMPARISON:
Many countries have implemented stricter foreign investment rules to protect their housing markets:
- New Zealand and Canada has near-banned foreign ownership of existing homes
- Thailand limits foreign ownership to 49% of the total unit area in any condominium, direct foreign ownership of houses is prohibited..
- Vietnam restricts foreign ownership to 30% of apartments in a condominium building, direct foreign ownership of houses is prohibited.
- Australia's current policies are comparatively lenient, contributing to our housing affordability crisis.
We strongly advocate Australian Government take the following actions:
ADOPT NZ'S POLICY ON FOREIGN PROPERTY OWNERSHIP:
- Prohibit non-residents from purchasing existing homes.
- Restrict foreign ownership of new builds to 30% of units in apartment buildings.
- Require Overseas Investment Office approval for most foreign property purchases.
- Implement strict residency requirements for property ownership.
ENFORCE A 5% CAP ON ANNUAL RENT INCREASES:
- Limit rent increases to a maximum of 5% per year to protect tenants from excessive hikes.
- Maintain the current rule of allowing increases only once every 12 months.
- Require 60 days' written notice for any rent increase.
REFORM TAX POLICIES:
- Phase out negative gearing and capital gains tax discounts that favor property investors over first-time homebuyers by 2025.
REGULATIONS ON SHORT-TERM RENTALS:
- Limit entire home rentals on platforms like Airbnb to a maximum of 90 nights per year in high-demand areas (like they have done in London, San Francisco and Iceland).
Why is this important?
By signing this petition, we urge the government to prioritise the housing needs of Australian residents and take concrete steps to make housing more affordable and accessible. The time for action is now – our communities and future generations depend on it. Sign now to demand comprehensive action on Australia's housing crisis. Together, we can ensure that every Australian has access to safe, secure, and affordable housing.
References
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2023). Homelessness and homelessness services. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-welfare/homelessness-and-homelessness-services
Everybody's Home. (n.d.). Sign the petition. https://everybodyshome.com.au/take-action/petition/
Australian Human Rights Commission. (n.d.). Homelessness is a human rights issue. https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/rights-and-freedoms/publications/homelessness-human-rights-issue
Foreigners now banned from buying homes in Canada
Everybody's Home. (n.d.). Sign the petition. https://everybodyshome.com.au/take-action/petition/
Australian Human Rights Commission. (n.d.). Homelessness is a human rights issue. https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/rights-and-freedoms/publications/homelessness-human-rights-issue
Foreigners now banned from buying homes in Canada
#HousingCrisisAus
#HousingIsAHumanRight
#HousingIsAHumanRight
Respectfully submitted for the attention of:
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
Minister for Housing Julie Collins
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton State
Chris Minns, Premier of NSW
Jacinta Allan, Premier of VIC
Steven Miles, Premier of QLD
Roger Cook, Premier of WA
Peter Malinauskas, Premier of S.A.
Jeremy Rockliff, Premier of Tasmania
Andrew Barr, Chief Minister of the ACT
Eva Lawler, Chief Minister of the NT
Minister for Housing Julie Collins
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton State
Chris Minns, Premier of NSW
Jacinta Allan, Premier of VIC
Steven Miles, Premier of QLD
Roger Cook, Premier of WA
Peter Malinauskas, Premier of S.A.
Jeremy Rockliff, Premier of Tasmania
Andrew Barr, Chief Minister of the ACT
Eva Lawler, Chief Minister of the NT