Canberra Liberals: Social and affordable housing

The Canberra Liberals would create 2,000 more social and affordable dwellings, opposition leader Elizabeth Lee said.

The Liberals would allocate 100 residential land lots per year to community housing providers, and offer them land on a 25-year peppercorn lease. The community housing sector would also have more access to the Housing Australia Future Fund.

“Working with community housing providers and supplying them with suitable land, with no upfront costs, means they only have to fund the construction costs of the property, making it an attractive option,” Ms Lee said.

“Canberra’s public housing supply has fallen behind the rate of population growth, and we have a shortfall of social housing dwellings and affordable rentals. Boosting supply is critical in solving the housing crisis, and the community housing sector is well placed to step up and fill the gap.”

The Liberals would begin a pilot program for ‘key workers’ (such as nurses and teachers) to rent or purchase homes: rental tenants would pay only half the market rent, while a purchasing program run through Hope Housing would waive stamp duty.

Shadow housing minister Mark Parton said the lack of affordable housing under the current government contributed to a worker shortage.

The Liberals would encourage the development of more affordable housing on community-zoned land by exempting lease variation charges and speeding up development applications from community housing providers.

The Liberals would also boost public housing maintenance by $5 million to immediately address the most urgent issues, and reserve 10 per cent of all new developments for social housing.

The Real Estate Institute of the ACT (REIACT) welcomed the Liberals policy announcement, CEO Maria Edwards said.

“It’s a step forward in addressing the critical supply issues for social and affordable housing. Maintaining and improving existing public housing stock rather than selling off and putting pressure on the private market would seem a sensible first step, along with empowering Community Housing providers to deliver in the market sector – they are best qualified to service. While more social housing will certainly ease some of the pain, there is also a need to ensure there are more freestanding housing options available for young professionals, families, and downsizers, and that the construction industry can meet the demand to build the housing required across the spectrum – creating a better alignment  between regulation and delivery should be a priority.”

Last month, the ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) and ACT Shelter called for political parties and candidates to commit to a more ambitious social housing policy, arguing that the housing supply had shrunk and homelessness was worsening.

“The Liberals’ election commitments to grow community housing are a step in the right direction, assuming that there will be no selling off or reductions in of current social housing stock,” ACTCOSS CEO Dr Devin Bowles said. “We urge all parties to commit to grow both public and community housing and reverse the current trajectory of declining social housing stock.”

Since self-government in 1989, the public housing proportion of housing stock has fallen from 12.2 per cent to 5.7 per cent, Dr Bowles said. ACTCOSS and ACT Shelter believe that by 2036, at least 10 of the housing stock must be social housing, and that parties must commit to increasing both public and community housing.

“The ACT is experiencing a housing crisis, with those experiencing poverty hit hardest,” Dr Bowles said. “Homelessness and insecure housing are not inevitable: they are political choices that can be overcome with the right policies. This election season, voters are prioritising housing solutions. Political parties and candidates are responding with what is shaping up to be the most ambitious set of social housing election commitments since self-government began in 1989.”

ACT Shelter welcomed the Canberra Liberals’ commitment to social homes “that will take Canberrans out of crisis and into secure homes that will enable families and individuals to focus on their future goals and aspirations”, CEO Travis Gilbert said.

2,000 additional social and affordable homes would mean better housing for 5,000 Canberrans, Mr Gilbert said. “An affordable rental for households on moderate incomes, means freeing up money for extra-curricular activities for kids and young people, and provides breathing room in household budgets, where market rent means there is no capacity to build a savings buffer, as every spare dollar is allocated to making rent.”

ACT Labor has yet to release its social and affordable housing policy, but has promised to deliver 30,000 more homes by 2030; to encourage ‘missing middle’ housing; and to eliminate stamp duty.

The ACT Greens criticised the Canberra Liberals and ACT Labor for not releasing any new public housing policies, calling their approaches ‘tepid and visionless’. Deputy leader Rebecca Vassarotti claimed that relying on market-driven solutions had failed, and advocated for direct government investment in public housing.

“Supply alone isn’t going to magically solve this crisis, nor is only investing in community housing which is still beholden to market fluctuations,” Ms Vassarotti said. “For the sake of stable, affordable rents – the ACT Government must step in to build public homes.”

She contrasted the Greens’ commitment to building and purchasing 10,000 public homes over the next decade with the major parties’ plans, which she claims are inadequate and poorly designed. Neither Labor nor the Liberals believe the Greens’ policy is workable.

Independents for Canberra was the only group with a policy to ensure the supply of social housing met long-term community need, party leader Thomas Emerson said.

“Without a mechanism like our social housing funding trigger, we will continue to see inhumane wait times on our public housing waitlists.”

Mr Emerson said it was encouraging to see other parties promising to ensure everyone had a safe place to sleep, regardless of income, but argued that an independent crossbench was needed to hold the government accountable on social housing.

“Too many Canberrans are being left behind,” Mr Emerson said. “Almost 900 children accessed homelessness services in the ACT last year. Women trying to escape violence are being told to wait it out because we do not have a home for them. It’s time for change.”

ACT Labor: School upgrades

ACT Labor has committed to spend $150 million to upgrade toilets, classrooms, playgrounds, green spaces, and staff rooms in public schools. Accessible ramps, lifts, toilets and sensory spaces would be prioritised.

$30 million would be allocated to install more heating and air-conditioning. 

Labor would collaborate with Melba Copland Secondary School and Fraser Primary School to upgrade their campuses.

Elizabeth Lee said the announcement was “an admission of utter failure” on Labor’s part.

“This is a government that’s been there for 23 years, and the fact that with less than a month to go until the election, it is announcing $150 million for basics like heating, cooling and toilets, just goes to show the utter long-term neglect that this government has embarked on in the time that they have been there.”

The Canberra Liberals last month announced they would boost the asset renewal program by $25 million in the short term to improve heating, cooling and toilet facilities urgently.

An auditor-general’s report in 2019 had recommended that public schools must bring such basic necessities up to speed, Ms Lee said. She mentioned parliamentary and assembly hearings where students were forced to bring blankets into the classroom; stench was baked into the bricks in toilets; and female students felt toilet facilities were not adequate for their periods.

Angela Burroughs, president of the Australian Education Union (AEU) ACT branch, said the announcement was “a win for Australian Education Union members”.

“The AEU ACT branch has been advocating for greater transparency and coordination of school infrastructure upgrades,” Ms Burroughs said.

“As part of its election pledge, AEU members have asked the major parties to commit to a comprehensive audit of school infrastructure to guide necessary and urgent upgrades. We welcome this announcement that not only provides this commitment but funds it to the tune of $150 million.

“Every year, teachers and school leaders reach out to the AEU for support in addressing concerns associated with inadequate heating and cooling of our school classrooms. As a union, we have lobbied for this basic infrastructure to be installed and maintained as a system responsibility rather than falling to individual schools. It is pleasing to see $30 million quarantined to address this fundamental infrastructure requirement.”

Labor says it has delivered hundreds of school infrastructure upgrades this term.

David Pollard, Independents for Canberra candidate for Yerrabi, said that infrastructure in public schools – playgrounds, heating, cooling, classrooms, staffrooms – “shouldn’t be election fodder. It’s the bread and butter of government to provide adequate public schools.”

As a volunteer with his Parents & Citizens Association for nine years, Mr Pollard said he had observed that such infrastructure had “all been lacking across the board for far too long. My school community is one of many that has been calling for all these things for years…

“Labor’s election promise sounds good, but we’re hearing a loud sentiment that promises are no longer enough. Our community is ready for action and accountability, and we are fed up with not getting either.”

Mr Pollard also criticised Labor’s “woefully inadequate” underfunding of literacy and numeracy programs; Independents for Canberra (like the Canberra Liberals) would fully fund the recommendations of the recent inquiry. Mr Pollard also called for catch-up programs for students who have fallen behind, arguing that families should not bear the burden of identifying and addressing educational gaps, which “only widens the already massive equity gap in our public education system”.

ACT Labor: Women’s health

ACT Labor has promised to expand the Women’s Health Service to more locations, so care is accessible and closer to home. These services, run by women for women, provide health checks, cervical screening, menopause support, nutrition advice, and counselling. Special attention will be given to vulnerable women, including those who have experienced childhood trauma, family violence or sexual assault.

Labor would establish a high-risk breast cancer clinic at the North Canberra Hospital; expand gynaecological services; and hire more nurses and allied health workers at the Canberra Endometriosis Centre. The health workforce would be trained to identify and treat concerns that overwhelmingly impact women: pelvic pain, ovarian cysts, and endometriosis. The Pain Management Service, Spinal Pain Service and Community Care Physiotherapy Service would be expanded.

“Women in Canberra will continue to have access to the right care, at the right place and at the right time under a re-elected Labor Government,” a Labor spokesperson said.

ACT Labor: Mental health

As part of its commitment to 800 more health workers, Labor would hire more mental health specialists, nurse practitioners and allied health workers.

Advanced practice mental health nurses and mental health nurse practitioners in Walk-in Centres would offer accessible, extended-hours care, taking pressure off emergency departments.

Labor would expand the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service to support moderate to severe mental health difficulties; increase funding to community mental health programs (MOST, WOKE, Stepping Stones, Youth Aware of Mental Health, the ACT Child and Youth Mental Health Sector Alliance); and tackle loneliness by supporting activities that build human connection and designing a social prescribing program.

“Demand for mental health services is growing, with more people, especially young Canberrans, experiencing challenges and complexities in their lives,” a Labor spokesperson said. “Hiring more specialists and mental health staff and working with the community sector will enable the delivery of more services and help to reduce wait-times.”

Independents for Canberra candidates Thomas Emerson and Sneha KC raised concerns about Labor’s mental health policies.

Sneha KC commended Labor’s focus on expanding mental health services as “a step in the right direction”, but said their approach lacked sustainability and effectiveness. Recruiting additional specialists in a sector facing workforce shortages would be challenging, and Labor’s plans lacked the long-term funding needed to address the causes of the mental health crisis and reduce wait times.

She thought that Labor’s proposal to ‘investigate’ solutions for loneliness lacked clear outcomes, noting that 40 per cent of Canberrans report being lonely, and urging action instead of more studies.

Sneha KC suggested that practice nurses in GP clinics be trained in mental health care, and that such mental health consultations be included in the Medicare Benefits Schedule.

“This preventative approach would enable early intervention, reduce pressure on emergency services, and offer a more affordable long-term solution.”

Likewise, Mr Emerson acknowledged Labor’s attention to the youth mental health crisis, but said he could not see any policies addressing its root causes (like the Independents for Canberra’s Future Generations Act). 

“Are any other parties or candidates willing to commit to a program of wide-ranging reform to give young people a future they can be excited about?”

Mr Emerson also criticised the disparity in funding for the community-managed mental health sector, which provides two-thirds of mental health services in the ACT but receives only 13 per cent of the funding. Independents for Canberra have called for funding to be increased by 30 per cent for the entire community sector, “not only a handful of select organisations”, because 96 per cent of organisations report they cannot meet demand. 

“When will ACT Labor join us in making this tangible commitment to those who care for our most vulnerable?” Mr Emerson said.