Parliament of Australia:Senate:Committees:Housing Affordability in Australia:A good house is hard to find: Housing affordability in Australia


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A good house is hard to find: Housing affordability in Australia

16 June 2008

View the report as a single document - (PDF 1192KB)

View the report as separate downloadable parts:


Membership of Committee	(PDF 66KB)

Executive Summary	(PDF 71KB)
The housing affordability problem

List of recommendations	(PDF 70KB)

Chapter 1 - Introduction	(PDF 60KB)
Terms of reference Conduct of the inquiry Structure of the report

Chapter 2 - Social aspects of home ownership	(PDF 116KB)
The preference for home ownership Housing costs and poverty Housing and specific populations Conclusion

Chapter 3 - Measures of affordability	(PDF 400KB)
Mortgage stress incidence Effects on home ownership rates Regional aspects International comparison Distributional implications Interpretation Estimates of the demand-supply imbalance Conclusion

Chapter 4 - Factors influencing the demand for housing	(PDF 193KB)
Higher incomes Demographics High rents Lower interest rates Greater credit availability Speculative demand Taxation influences

Chapter 5 - The challenge of housing supply	(PDF 141KB)
Supply-side problems and challenges Melbourne 2030, Adelaide and Urban Growth Boundaries Conclusion

Chapter 6 - Housing diversity	(PDF 87KB)
The lack of diversity Problems caused by lack of diversity Policy responses and their critics

Chapter 7 - Impact of state and local government charges	(PDF 123KB)
Stamp duties Infrastructure charges Rezoning windfalls Goods and services tax Land taxes

Chapter 8 - Specific issues in particular areas	(PDF 132KB)
Mining towns 'Sea change' regions Western Sydney Conclusion

Chapter 9 - Current and proposed schemes to increase home ownership	(PDF 101KB)
First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) Scheme First home saver account scheme (FHSA) State government assistance Shared equity schemes Land rent scheme Mortgage corporation—'AussieMac' Calls for further tax concessions Assistance to keep people in home ownership

Chapter 10 - Measures to increase affordable rental housing	(PDF 192KB)
Commonwealth State Housing Agreement Private Rental Housing Assistance Social Housing Emergency assistance programmes National Rental Affordability Scheme Other issues

Chapter 11 - Longer-term responses	(PDF 81KB)
Regional development policies The need for environmentally sustainable housing

Additional comments – Senator Andrew Bartlett	(PDF 57KB)

Additional comments from the Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert	(PDF 71KB)

Bibliography	(PDF 74KB)

Appendix 1 - Submissions Received	(PDF 59KB)

Appendix 2 - Additional Information Received	(PDF 62KB)

Appendix 3 - Public Hearing and Witnesses	(PDF 77KB)
Canberra, Tuesday 1 April 2008 Sydney, Wednesday 2 April 2008 Campbelltown, Wednesday 3 April 2008 Karratha, Monday 7 April 2008 Perth, Tuesday 8 April 2008 Brisbane, Monday 14 April 2008 Surfers Paradise, Tuesday 15 April 2008 Ballina, 15 April 2008 Geelong, Wednesday 23 April 2008 Narre Warren, Thursday 24 April 2008 Melbourne, Thursday 24 April 2008 Adelaide, Monday 28 April 2008 Launceston, Monday 5 May 2008 Canberra, Wednesday 7 May 2008

Appendix 4 - Glossary	(PDF 62KB)

For more information, contact:

Committee Secretary
Senate Select Committee on Housing Affordability in Australia
Department of the Senate
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Australia

Phone: +61 2 6277 3540

Fax: +61 2 6277 5719

Email: housing.sen@aph.gov.au