Search

For an increasing proportion of Australian households, the Australian dream of home ownership is no longer an option. Neoliberal housing policy and the financialisation of housing has resulted in a housing affordability crisis. Historically, Australian housing policy has afforded only a limited role to local government. This article analyses the results of a nation-wide survey of Australian local governments’ perceptions of housing affordability in their local government area, the possibilities for their meaningful intervention, the challenges they face, the role of councillors and councils’ perceptions of what levels of government should take responsibility for housing. Almost all of the respondents from Sydney and Melbourne councils were clear that there is a housing affordability crisis in their local government area. We apply a framework analysing housing policy in the context of neoliberalism and the related financialisation of housing in order to analyse the housing affordability crisis in Sydney and Melbourne. We conclude that in order to begin resolving the housing crisis in Australia’s two largest cities there has to be an increasing role for local government, a substantial increase in the building of social and affordable housing and a rollback of policies that encourage residential property speculation. JEL Codes: R31, R21For an increasing proportion of Australian households, the Australian dream of home ownership is no longer an option. Neoliberal housing policy and the financialisation of housing has resulted in a housing affordability crisis. Historically, Australian housing policy has afforded only a limited role to local government. This article analyses the results of a nation-wide survey of Australian local governments’ perceptions of housing affordability in their local government area, the possibilities for their meaningful intervention, the challenges they face, the role of councillors and councils’ perceptions of what levels of government should take responsibility for housing. Almost all of the respondents from Sydney and Melbourn2 The Economic and Labour Relations Review 00(0)e councils were clear that there is a housing affordability crisis in their local government area. We apply a framework analysing housing policy in the context of neoliberalism and the related financialisation of housing in order to analyse the housing affordability crisis in Sydney and Melbourne. We conclude that in order to begin resolving the housing crisis in Australia’s two largest cities there has to bean increasing role for local government, a substantial increase in the building of social and affordable housing and a rollback of policies that encourage residential property speculation. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

This paper examines the role of local government in the provision of housing across advanced economies in the contemporary economy and historically, while seeking to locate the Australian experience in a broader international perspective. It argues that while the details of recent developments in Australian local government are unique, in broader terms they are in line with wider shifts observable across nations. The paper finds that while there is a high degree of path dependency in the ways in which local governments engage with housing market processes, ongoing housing affordability challenges have given rise to policy innovation and new programmatic perspective. These developments have reflected non-systematic, and often disruptive, change rather than the continuation of predictable trends. The paper argues such evolution will continue into the future and will be more likely to deliver benefits to the local government sector and housing affordability if acknowledged and enabled by more senior tiers of government.

This report presents the results of an online survey of local governments across Australia on their attitudes, programs, policies and actions with respect to housing. It focuses on the data from respondents in the Sydney Metropolitan areas with 17 Councils in Sydney responded to the survey. Overall, 213 local governments in Australia completed the survey – representing about 40 per cent of all local governments.

Refereed/Peer-reviewed

Report for Local Government Association of South Australia (LGASA) "June 2014" An exploratory study of the impacts of second home ownership, population mobility and ageing on local governments in South Australia. The study will combine quantitative and qualitative research methods including analyses of census and other data and keynote case studies of LGAs with high concentrations of holiday homes.

This document sets out to highlight some of the innovative practices being developed across Australia in response to homelessness. The paper draws upon some of the new ways of thinking encountered by researchers at the Centre for Housing, Urban and Regional Planning in their work on homelessness.The diversity of approaches evident in this document reflects a new commitment to change within the homelessness sector.The case studies covered here come from virtually all parts of the nation and reflect the diverse ways homelessness is experienced – by Indigenous Australians, the long term homeless, humanitarian arrivals, women and families.

usc

usc

usc

Housing and housing markets across the developed world have been in a state of considerable flux since 2005 when the ideas for this book first began to take shape. In many parts of the developed world it was a time of economic growth, financial stability, booming housing markets and policy reformation, but that environment has both changed and become more fragmented over the past five years. These external shocks have inevitably influenced the development of this book. In common with much contemporary social science, Housing Transitions has its origins in research undertaken for the public sector, albeit a public sector attracted to, and intrigued by, the long-running academic literature on housing careers. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

usc

usc

usc

usc