Don't blame migrants for rental crisis

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More than 40 housing, homelessness and community services organisations have written to the Prime Minister and opposition leader to express concern that migrant communities are being scapegoated as the primary reason for the housing crisis.

Everybody’s Home media release

Everybody’s Home spokesperson Maiy Azize, who coordinated the letter, said: “It is nonsense to blame overseas migration as a primary driver of a housing crisis that has been decades in the making.

“During the COVID era which had lower migration, rents actually increased more than they did in the preceding decade.”

The letter references fresh analysis of SQM statistics which show national asking rents rose $84 extra per week between the closure of Australia’s borders (March 2020-February 2022).

That’s higher than the $69 per week increase in the entire decade prior (March 2010-March 2020).

The organisations including the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS), Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia (FECCA) and National Shelter say decades of poor policy choices by successive governments, including the chronic undersupply of social housing and inflationary impacts of investor tax incentives, have fuelled the crisis.

The organisations urge the government and opposition to show leadership in the housing affordability debate and focus on the main drivers.

“Migrant communities are being scapegoated for Australia’s housing crisis.

“That rhetoric excuses failed government policies and detracts from the solutions that will fix this national emergency,” Ms Azize said.

“Governments have given handouts to investors, allowed unlimited rent increases, and stopped building homes for the people who need them.

“That’s why housing is so unfair, so unequal and so unaffordable. It’s a distraction to suggest that migrants are to blame.

“Migrants make a valuable contribution to society and fill workforce shortages. They don’t just create demand for housing, they help build the homes we need.

“To make housing affordable again, our leaders must tackle the big drivers of this crisis. That means ending the unfair tax policies that push up the cost of housing, and building more social housing.

“The new year brings a renewed chance to end this housing crisis. That can only be done by concentrating on the solutions that will actually fix it.”

New report out January

According to Everybody’s Home, “Our elected leaders must also take action on the unfair tax breaks that drive up rents and make housing less affordable for everyone.

“The impact of these tax breaks are huge, but not well understood. That’s why in January we want you to be part of the launch of our next report to learn more and help us take action in 2024!

“Join us for the launch of our next report – Written Off: The high cost of Australia’s unfair tax system.

“This landmark report outlines how investor tax settings are pushing up the cost of housing, demonstrating how the housing crisis is also an inequality crisis and making the urgent case for reform.

“Our findings show that government actions have not only failed to solve Australia’s supply and affordability problem, they have created and worsened them.

Register online to learn more about what can be done to turn this crisis around and how you can get involved in the housing campaign for all Australians.

Speakers to be announced shortly.

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