Experts say shift in policy needed to make use of current housing stock

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Western Australia's economy leads the nation, but that's done little to improve housing affordability in the state. The state government has purchased a hundred dollar short stay hotel for social and accessible housing in Perth to utilise existing infrastructure. But experts say it'll take an ambitious shift in policy, not just spending, to make better use of current housing stock.

Transcript

00:00236 luxury suites soon to be leased to low to middle income owners and people on the

00:12public housing list.

00:14A spa, pool and gym transformed into communal space, the complex run by a community housing

00:21provider.

00:22We've got to think outside the box.

00:24We've got to look at all the solutions that we can do to bolster housing supply.

00:30It's been unpopular with some residents and praised by others.

00:37Converting a space like this is an unorthodox project and an experiment the WA government

00:43is really hoping will work.

00:46We understand that a lot of people are looking at this project but the need is there and we

00:52have to make big bold decisions if we are going to tackle social and affordable housing.

00:59With around half of WA homes having two or more spare bedrooms, some argue the state is not

01:05being bold enough.

01:07There's a lot of people who would love to downsize who are in inappropriate housing but because

01:13of stamp duty they have to pay $50,000 to the government for the privilege of moving to free

01:20up their place.

01:21Scrapping stamp duty altogether, not on the cards for WA.

01:26I would argue this, bringing in other changes that would see people just shift to existing

01:33stock doesn't ultimately help supply.

01:36All our focus, including our tax incentives at a state level, is about how do we get more

01:44housing built.

01:45Officer Dockery says making housing affordable requires more than additional supply.

01:51Politically that's really difficult because the people who have entrenched interests in

01:55their existing properties don't want the prices to go down.

01:58But what we really need is policies that will bring prices down.

02:01A demand almost impossible to supply.

02:04Officer Dockery.

02:11Counter House問

02:12Professor Dockery.

02:13Empowered

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