Housing Policy Priorities

1. Double the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF).

The $10 billion HAFF passed parliament after major improvements from the crossbench and will build social and affordable housing for 30,000 families.

But it’s small relative to the scale of the task at hand and needs to be significantly expanded.

2. Sharpen incentives to build more homes.

Under the 2022 Housing Accord, the federal government offers financial incentives to states to deliver new housing. However, at the current rate, no state is expected to reach their targets, so the incentives are not flowing through.

We need to redesign these payments, giving states and territories an incentive to remove impediments, shorten planning approval processes, and deliver the critical infrastructure that enables housing.

3. Switch-out stamp duty for land tax, as part of a broader review of the tax system.

Stamp duty penalises people who move home, downsize, or get divorced. I’ve been calling for it to be reviewed since I stood for parliament in 2022.

NSW Treasury analysis suggests switching from stamp duty (a lump sum paid upon purchase of the property) to affordable annual land taxes would raise home ownership by 6.6% – or about 130,000 households and 345,000 people moving from renting to a home of their own.

The ACT is currently making the switch, but most states can’t afford to give up their stamp duty revenue. The federal government could step in and provide support to help make the switch.

This should be analysed as part of a broader review of our tax system, as I have called for in my Tax Green Paper.

4. Create a new construction industry regulator.

We won’t unlock new housing supply until we improve construction productivity, which has declined by 12% in the last 10 years. Labor needs to get serious about dealing with the CFMEU. After four Royal Commissions, it’s clear that simply appointing an administrator won’t permanently clean up the building industry, which needs special treatment.

That’s why I support the proposal put forward by the Master Builders Association, for a new industry regulator with broad powers to enforce compliance with civil and criminal law.

5. Stop fighting and start collaborating.

The parliament has recognised housing is a problem. We will be judged on whether we throw all our efforts to make a difference, or whether – as with climate, we continue to score political points.

Delivering for Wentworth: 80,000 new secure rental homes

Last year, the Build To Rent Bill – a plan to provide tax incentives for companies that built more rental properties – was stalled in the Senate.

With the Greens and Coalition refusing to negotiate, it looked like party politics would get in the way of addressing the housing crisis. A compromise needed to be found. 

Working alongside David Pocock, I backed a joint proposal by the Property Council and National Shelter to find a way through.

This proposal amended the Bill to provide more security for renters by giving them longer-term leases, in exchange for help to get the properties built in the first place.

In November 2024, Labor, Greens and crossbench Senators finally agreed to this compromise deal. I was proud to stand alongside the Housing Minister to announce it.

Wentworth Housing Forums

I’ve hosted a series of Housing Forums to better understand your views. We got together with the experts and engaged with over two hundred people to build a new vision for housing policy in Wentworth. 

I also surveyed over 500 Wentworth residents about their concerns, goals and ideas for solutions concerning the housing crisis. A summary report of this community feedback can be found here.

Watch and listen

• Sky News – Young people ‘most critical’ to retain in Sydney yet are ‘pushed out’ due to housing crisis. (link)
• ABC Insiders - Allegra Spender: Young people are feeling abandoned by the tax and housing systems (link)
• Sky News – Allegra Spender calls for Australia to focus on growing housing (link)
• Democracy Sausage Podcast: Breaking the housing deadlock with Allegra Spender (link)
• ABC RN Drive - Labor housing fund not adequate as it is: Allegra Spender (link)

More details

• Crossbench call for a Citizens Assembly on Housing Affordability – Allegra Spender (link)
• Iain Walker from newDemocracy explain the basics of a Citizens Assembly (link)
• Australian Financial Review - Spender seeks Senate support for citizens’ assembly on housing (link)
• Sydney Morning Herald - If politicians can’t fix the housing crisis, can the people do it for them? (link)