(http://www NULL.abc NULL.net NULL.au/news/2013-05-22/refugee-advocates-says-housing-shortage-critical/4705206?section=wa)Housing advocates interviewed by the ABC say the critical shortage of rental accommodation in Perth is worsening, particularly for refugees struggling to establish a new life in WA.

In the interview, Housing Crisis Committee chairwoman Mandy Whitton said despite a petition to the State Government last November calling for swift action to address the affordable rental shortage, many families are still facing homelessness and remain desperate.

Click here to read the article on the ABC website. (http://www NULL.abc NULL.net NULL.au/news/2013-05-22/refugee-advocates-says-housing-shortage-critical/4705206?section=wa)

CHCWA has previously covered the issue of housing humanitarian entrants in our quarterly newsletter, The Insider. Click here to read (page 5 & 6)

The first Sustainable Australia report (http://www NULL.environment NULL.gov NULL.au/sustainability/measuring/publications/sustainable-australia-report-2013 NULL.html), released this morning, has found that inequality has increased during the last 30 years despite the country enjoying a strong economy, low unemployment and higher incomes.

In particular, the report notes housing supply is “not keeping up with demand, and dwelling prices have rapidly increased since 2000. There is a stark, and growing, divide between the opportunities available to residents of the inner suburbs and those available to the residents of outer urban areas.”

The report highlights a number of trends in Australia that are set to have a large impact on the next generation of Australians. Among these are planning for an aging population, growing cities, rising health costs and changes in traditional work and family roles.

The report also says Australians must be more efficient in the use of energy and resources, more respectful of nature, and adapt to the consequences of climate change.

Click here to access the report. (http://www NULL.environment NULL.gov NULL.au/sustainability/measuring/publications/sustainable-australia-report-2013 NULL.html)

A coalition of leading built environment groups is calling for a new Federal Government department focussed on ensuring quality strategic planning for the future of Australian cities.

The Urban Coalition launched A New Deal for Urban Australia, a plan to meet the emerging urban challenges and improve our cities’ livability.

The plan calls for leadership and investment and recommends the establishment of an Urban Infrastructure Fund to meet a backlog of more than $500bn in infrastructure needs for Australian cities and to better manage population growth. The funds would be available for projects such as public transport, more urban housing and aged care.

Click here to read the full report (http://www NULL.propertyoz NULL.com NULL.au/library/A%20New%20Deal%20for%20Urban%20Australia NULL.pdf)

The West Australian published a story based on CHCWA’s Rental Affordability Survey today. You can  read the article here (http://au NULL.news NULL.yahoo NULL.com/thewest/a/-/newshome/16653738/low-earners-priced-out-of-rentals/) or turn to page 18 in your copy of the newspaper.

Rental affordability in Perth remains at record lows for those on low to moderate incomes according to a new study by the Community Housing Coalition of Western Australia (CHCWA), the peak industry body for the State’s community and affordable housing providers.

“CHCWA’s Perth Rental Affordability Survey 2013 shows very few rentals were affordable to those on low to moderate incomes despite a 32 per cent increase in the number of rentals compared to the same time last year.  Most of the increase was at the upper end of the market which is of little benefit to those on lower incomes,” CHCWA’s Executive Officer, Barry Doyle said.

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(http://www NULL.coag NULL.gov NULL.au/sites/all/sites/default/files/private/images/Dec%20COAG NULL.jpg)The COAG Select Council on Housing and Homelessness met today in Melbourne. A communique was issued this morning which, in addition to what is listed below, also said that funding to continue the NPAH has been allocated by the states and territories (click to read more).

National Rental Affordability Scheme
The Australian Government reaffirmed its long term commitment to invest in affordable rental housing for low to moderate income earners through the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS). Ministers noted that the Australian Government would open a dedicated NRAS round to support ‘shovel ready’ affordable housing projects on 18 April and close on 22 May 2013.  The Shovel Ready round would seek applications for approximately 1,000 dwellings to be substantially completed by June 2014.

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(http://markbutler NULL.alp NULL.org NULL.au/images/Marks_first_parliamentary_speech NULL.JPG)

The Hon Mark Butler MP

Federal Housing Minister Mark Butler told the ACOSS conference yesterday that states needed to invest in social housing, but failed to commit to any future action on behalf of the Commonwealth.

During the GFC the Federal Government spent $5.5billion on affordable housing schemes that  significantly boosted social housing stock around the country.

Mr Butler claimed all new social housing is funded directly by the Commonwealth, but was unable to commit to future action despite long-term projections that suggest stock will drop significantly.

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Six consecutive cuts to interest rates since November 2010 leaving interest rates at the historic low of 3.0% last seen during the maelstrom of the GFC in April 2009 has served to inflate residential property prices in WA.

Updated REIWA analysis (http://au NULL.news NULL.yahoo NULL.com/thewest/a/-/wa/16385956/perth-house-price-hits-500k/)of residential property sales for the last three months of 2012 shows the median house price has hit $500,000 – $5000 higher than previously thought and 6.4 per cent higher than the same period in 2011. Preliminary figures for 2013 indicate prices for the March quarter will “at least” equal the high of $505,000 set in the March quarter of 2010.”

In fact, while the low interest rate environment is stoking inflation in house prices, to varying degrees, throughout the country, WA has experience the largest gains according to the latest data provided by the ABS. (See below). This should come as little surprise given that WA is also the State with the most robust economic fundamentals in terms of GDP, employment, wages growth and population growth. Read more →

Bill Marmion MLA
Minister for Housing

Premier Colin Barnett has announced the State Government’s new Cabinet, to be sworn in Thursday. Bill Marmion will take over the Housing portfolio in addition to Mines and Petroleum and Helen Morton will add Child Protection to her portfolios of Mental Health and Disability Services.

This will the the second time Bill Marmion has been responsible for the Housing portfolio; he was appointed as Minister in 2010 following the resignation of Troy Buswell. In December that year his portfolio changed once again to Minister for Environment and Minister for Water, which he has held to date.

Helen Morton was  first appointed as Minister Mental Health and Disability Services in 2010. In her time as a member of the Legislative Council, Helen has held the positions of Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, Treasurer, Minister for State Development, Minister for Water, Mental Health, Minister for Housing and Minister for Science and Innovation. Prior to 2010, Helen Morton was an upper house member for the East Metropolitan region for five years.

“The beginning of the Liberal National Government’s second term is an exciting time and it presents an excellent opportunity to bring some fresh ideas and new approaches to the Cabinet table,” the Premier said.

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