Human right to housing bill introduced to Parliament

ACT independent senator David Pocock and member for North Sydney Kylea Tink have jointly introduced a bill into the Senate and House of Representatives that would call upon the federal government to develop a long-term plan that can overhaul Australia’s “dysfunctional housing system.”

The bill was described as requiring the cooperation of current and future governments to “develop, implement and maintain a 10-year National Housing and Homelessness Plan”.

This legislation would be influential in underlining the plan’s scope, ambitions, and housing policy focus areas and help create a plan that will include guidelines for genuine consultation and facilitating negotiations with states and territories.

Detailing the ‘National Housing and Homelessness Plan’, Pocock stated that “having a transparent framework, with agreed national objectives embedded in legislation and greater accountability can help transform how we treat housing from being a vehicle of wealth creation to a fundamental human right.”

“The complexity of this crisis requires a long-term strategy and commitment that endures beyond short-term political cycles. Legislating the ongoing requirement for a National Housing and Homelessness Plan can help deliver that,” Pocock said.

“We need big ambition and bold action if we are to stand any chance of solving Australia’s crippling housing crisis.”

The bill also proposed the establishment of an Office of the National Housing and Homelessness Advocate that would independently monitor progress of the plan’s outcomes and further investigate systemic housing issues.

The bill also proposed the establishment of a National Housing Consumer Council (NHCC) to represent tenants and home buyers.

With the bill looking to consolidate Commonwealth housing policy development and delivery that is currently fragmented across Treasury, the Department of Social Services, the National Housing Supply and Affordability Council, and Housing Australia, Tink highlighted that the legislation will help “bring clarity and urgency to tackling one of the country’s most pressing issues.”

“For too long, our approach to housing has been piecemeal, short-term or simply put in the ‘too hard basket’ and the results have been disastrous,” Tink said.

“Every Australian deserves the right to an adequate standard of living, which includes the right to adequate housing. Access to safe and secure housing is one of our most basic human rights and is fundamental to individuals, families, communities and our nation thriving.”

The proposed legislation would utilise the Commonwealth government’s “constitutional authority on external affairs”, following a similar model to Canada’s legislation of its first-ever National Housing Strategy in 2019.

According to the politicians, over 117 individuals and organisations made up of “leading academics, industry experts, economists, former politicians from both sides of politics, peak bodies and advocates” had signed an open letter calling on current Housing Minister Julie Collins to legislate the bill’s plan.

“We urgently need to come together to deliver a meaningful, legislated, national approach to ensure all Australians have adequate housing. One that recognises housing as a fundamental human right, not a commodity, and ensures bad politics cannot override what should be smart, essential policy ever again,” Tink said.

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