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ISCOVER
Staff Reporter
Industry stakeholders have welcomed the appointment of Robert McClelland to the position of Minister for Housing and Homelessness.
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Both the Housing Industry Association and the Real Estate Institute of Australia said it was pleasing to see the federal government focussing on the issue of housing affordability.
"Housing is shelter, a necessity of life, and as such is deserving of renewed focus to ensure all Australians have access to an affordable roof over their heads," HIA managing director Shane Goodwin said.
"Housing is moving further out of reach for younger generations as the taxation and regulatory costs of new home building spiral higher.
"Furthermore, focus on how best to provide adequate investment in the provision and maintenance of public housing, and on programs to consistently reduce the level of homelessness, is fundamental to a more equitable Australian society.
"Creating a ministry which includes 'under one roof' all facets of housing supply across the spectrum of public and social housing, together with private owner-occupier and rental stock is a crucial step towards delivering a successful package of housing supply policy reform and implementation is achieved."
REIA president Pamela Bennett agreed and said the federal government has a fundamental role to play in leading from the front in ensuring a comprehensive program of reform across all levels of government to reduce the excessive costs to new housing.
"Housing has been without a specific minister for some time and the appointment of Mr McClelland is crucial to ensuring that important housing issues are placed at the top of the priority list," Ms Bennett said.
"REIA has been calling on the government to appoint a housing minister since the 2010 federal election and would like to see the new minister show leadership by implementing a specific housing policy."
