HOUSING AFFORDABILITY
Christine Campbell, Member for Pascoe Vale, has called for more affordable housing to be built in the electorate of Pascoe Vale.
Speaking in Parliament on 2 April, Ms Campbell said “The matter I wish to raise this afternoon is for the attention of the Minister for Housing, and it is terrific that he is the minister at the table as I raise this issue. The action I seek from him is that the Victorian government work in cooperation with the commonwealth to make a substantial investment in public and social housing in my electorate.”
“I am very proud of the fact that the Brumby government is leading the way in expanding housing choices for low-income Victorians through investments in public housing, as well as in schemes such as the National Rental Affordability Scheme, and its commitment to grow the social housing sector across the entire state. However, I believe we need to take further action to increase the supply of affordable housing, especially in the north-western metropolitan area of Melbourne”, Ms Campbell said.
“The significant increase in rents in metropolitan Melbourne is having a negative impact on the affordability of private rental housing, especially for lower income households. An increasing number of Victorian households are spending in excess of 50 per cent of their income on rent. In the December quarter of 2008 only 6.6 per cent of all new letting across metropolitan Melbourne was affordable to low-income Victorians.” Ms Campbell said
“I am sure this is a story that must exasperate the minister. He knows these facts only too well, and I am pleased he takes the matter to heart and argues the case strongly at the commonwealth level.” Ms Campbell said.
“According to the most recent data the median rent for residences in north-western Melbourne was $300 per week at the end of 2008, and that increased by 13.2 per cent over the course of the year. Waiting times for public housing are getting longer as increasing numbers of individuals and families fail to secure accommodation in the private rental market. Suburbs such as Pascoe Vale, Coburg, Hadfield and Glenroy are amongst the worst hit in the state, being very popular places to live.
The total number of people waiting for public housing in the north-western metropolitan region is 15 208. The Office of Housing office at Broadmeadows, which does a great job, covers a number of suburbs in my electorate and currently has 3183 people waiting for public housing. It is clear to the people of my electorate, and I know it is clear to the minister, that we need to increase stock in this area substantially to meet the demand. This situation has been exacerbated by the global financial crisis, and I ask for urgent attention to the need for affordable housing in north-western Melbourne.” Ms Campbell said.