2025-10-27
The Australian Greens have put forward a motion to parliament today calling on the Senate to recognise Australia’s housing crisis as a matter of public urgency, following recent data revealing the dire state of our housing problem.
House prices have risen at the fastest rate in four years as rates of home ownership have declined, especially among young young people. One in three property markets across Australia now have a median value of $1 million plus, a new record-high, according to Cotality. While Domain data shows Sydney house prices jumped by $58,148 (3.4 per cent) in just 90 days, the fastest quarterly growth in more than two years.
The Greens say Labor is making the crisis worse as their policies, such as the $180 billion tax breaks for landlords and the 5% deposit scheme, are spiking prices and putting home ownership further out of reach for renters and first home buyers.
With 89% of voters agreeing that Australia is in a housing crisis, the Greens are calling on the government to listen to voters and address the root causes rather than turbocharge our housing and homelessness crises through minor interventions.
Lines attributable to Greens spokesperson for housing, homelessness and finance Senator Barbara Pocock:
“This government needs to start treating housing as a human right instead of a game of monopoly.
“Australia is in a housing crisis that is spiralling out of control. House prices are soaring and Labor’s $180 billion tax perks for rich property investors are pouring fuel on the fire, locking renters and first-home buyers out.
‘The Australian dream of home ownership is dead. Rates of home ownership are falling especially among those under 35, with 25-29-year-olds dropping from 50% in 1971 to 36% in 2021.
“Home ownership is out of reach for so many Australians. Thirty years ago it took 4 years of average weekly earnings to buy a house, now it’s on track to be more than 8 times the average. How do first-home buyers stand a chance?
“Under the major parties, housing has become a wealth accumulation asset, not a roof over our heads. Housing finance is increasingly spent on investment properties not home ownership, with investors making up around their highest share of new lending since 2017.
“Australia’s housing market is rigged in favour of wealthy property investors and banks and it’s failing everyone else and it’s only going to get worse - house prices are forecast to increase by 9 percent next year.
“It’s clear where Labor’s priorities lie - with the big banks, property developers and wealthy investors - while another generation of renters and potential first-home buyers are left behind.
“Homelessness in Australia is the worst in living memory, having increased by 10 percent since Labor was elected. We’re seeing nine potentially avoidable deaths of homeless people on our streets every day which is unacceptable. We still don’t have a national plan to end homelessness. If Labor can find billions for investors, why can’t they find homes for people sleeping rough?
“Ending the housing crisis is possible. The government must wind back unfair tax handouts to wealthy property investors which are cooking our housing system, fuelling intergenerational inequality and helping to shut an entire generation out of home ownership."
Media contact: Charlotta Lomas - 0466339862