More social housing
Shelter is a basic human need and if there is any part of the housing market that the Government should intervene in , it ’ s to provide housing for people who would otherwise not be able to afford it . Australia does not have enough social housing - although population growth has risen by a third over the past 20 years , the stock of social housing has barely moved .
A key election policy by the new Government was to create a $ 10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund which will build 30,000 new social and affordable housing properties in its first five years . This will go some way to addressing the challenges of those at risk of homelessness but also for key workers who can ’ t live close to where they work because of affordability challenges .
POLITICS STATE OF PLAY
The result of the May federal election heralded change for Australia , and represents a seismic shift in the political state of play . The Labor Party has won a majority in the lower house to govern in its own right , while the Independent teal movement enjoyed huge success , unseating several moderate Liberals in their wake .
Despite Labor ’ s win , both the major parties suffered their lowest ever combined primary vote , with the Greens vote rising and picking up three extra lower house seats ( in Brisbane ) to add to their existing seat of Melbourne held by party leader Adam Bandt .
The teal independent win represents previously Liberal voters rejecting the party ’ s appeal to the right . Climate change and the federal integrity commission were reported as key issues for voters .
Scott Morrison ’ s unpopularity is said to have played a role in Liberal ’ s demise , especially with the female vote . His response to sexual assault allegations in federal parliament , as well as gaffes , and attacks on some high profile women ( i . e . former Auspost CEO , Christine Holgate ) were factors and may have also contributed to the push of moderate voters to all-female teal candidates . The quasi-nationalism experienced within the states during border closures could also have contributed to Liberal ’ s failure , with voter backlash in Western Australia providing Labor with their outright win . member of a major party ). Jacqui Lambie , who has secured a second seat for her party the Jacqui Lambie Network , is a wildcard vote who usually votes along literal lines of ‘ does this pass the sniff test ?’, unbeholden to any party .
The next three years will be interesting , with a rookie government leading Australia out of a milieu of natural disasters and a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic , facing rising inflation and interest rates , and a complicated geopolitical landscape .
The Australian population does seem more divided across political lines than ever , but a shift towards moderate politics for many Australians could mean our collective patience with the major parties is running dry , and it ’ s time for something new .
How this will play out is anyone ’ s guess . Victoria and New South Wales ’ s elections over the next 10 months will be equally as fascinating to watch .
The Senate race was just as fascinating , with 17 crossbenchers elected to hold the balance of power . One Nation will only have two seats , adding to the coalition ’ s likely 33 . This conservative block will have to negotiate with the left-leaning Greens , Labor , and former Wallabies captain David Pocock ( who made history as the first elected ACT Senate representative who is not a
23