Greens Spokesperson for Housing, Senator Mehreen Faruqi, has reacted to a new Productivity Commission report showing that two thirds of low income renters spend more than 30% of their income on rent, the commonly used benchmark for identifying rental stress. Half of those remain ‘stuck’ in stress four years on.
Senator Faruqi has called for the Federal Government to review and increase Commonwealth Rent Assistance.
Senator Faruqi said:
“When even the Productivity Commission concludes that rent assistance hasn’t kept up with rising rents, you know we have a problem. The Federal Government needs to step in and commit to increasing rent assistance.
“It is unacceptable that so many people already on low incomes are falling into financial stress just to put a roof over their head. Everyone has the right to a safe, secure and permanent home.
“We know the situation is getting worse. We need urgent interventions, coupled with significant financial resources and reform of the housing system, or more and more people will be without a home.
“The Productivity Commission has also pointed out wide disparities around the country in conditions for renters. That’s why the Greens have consistently called for a national standard to protect renters”, she concluded.
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