Media Release by The Hon Tanya Pibersek MP

Housing affordability in Newcastle

Federal Housing Minister Tanya Plibersek will today conduct a roundtable in Newcastle to look at ways to address housing affordability in the region.

“The Rudd Labor Government is getting on with the job of implementing the $2.2 billion worth of new housing measures announced in the May Budget,” Ms Plibersek said.

“This roundtable is a terrific way of informing other levels of government, developers and the community about our housing agenda, which will help make housing more affordable again.

“I congratulate local Federal MP Sharon Grierson for her initiative in holding this important event.”

The Housing Affordability Forum will be attended by:

  • Local community housing groups;
  • Representatives from Newcastle Council;
  • Property valuers and developers; and
  • Peak industry bodies from the property and development sector.

“Our housing affordability problem has taken a decade to develop and it won’t be fixed overnight,” Ms Grierson said.

“The current housing undersupply is driving up both housing prices and rent. We need to build more houses to bring the market back into balance, and we need to keep it that way.

“The Rudd Government’s housing program gives us the opportunity to provide more affordable housing for the next generation of home buyers in the Newcastle region.”