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

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

16 June 2008

© Commonwealth of Australia 2008
ISBN 978-0-642-71930-0

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