Addressing the Housing Crisis report

AGLA has released the Addressing the Housing Crisis: Unlocking Local Government’s Contribution report by Equity Economics.

The new report highlights opportunities and policy reforms for councils to play a more effective role in accelerating Australia’s housing supply.

In particular, the research shows there’s a $19.4 billion gap in the funding councils receive to deliver the enabling infrastructure necessary for 1.2 million new, well-located homes. This is beyond local governments’ capacity to fund and we need better, more sustainable partnerships with all levels of government.

The Equity Economics report was also informed by a survey of about 130 councils across Australia, which showed:

• 80 per cent of local governments can’t cover trunk infrastructure expenses. Only 5 per cent of respondents have current annual revenues that cover total annual expenses for trunk infrastructure.
• 40 per cent of local governments have cut back on new infrastructure developments because of inadequate trunk infrastructure funding.