Survey data reveals deepening scepticism over the government's ability to deliver on housing
Distrust in the federal government's handling of the housing crisis has increased in the two months since the federal Budget, according to new research from advocacy organisation AMPLIFY.
The AMPLIFY Home Truths survey of more than 4,000 Australians found that distrust in the federal government to take appropriate action on housing rose from 61% before the budget to 63% following it.
Nearly three times as many respondents said the Budget had left them worse off overall (39%) than better off (14%).
Despite the Budget's stated focus on first-home buyers, 68% of respondents said the measures would either make no difference or make it harder to buy a first home. Only 24% believed the Budget would make it easier. Among Australians aged 18 to 34, 61% held the same view, compared with 28% who expected improvement.
"The federal government sold this as a housing Budget, but Australians aren't buying it," said Martin Codina (pictured right), acting chief executive of AMPLIFY.
"When you look at individual Budget measures, the picture is mixed at best. Taken together, Australians remain deeply pessimistic about housing outcomes since the Budget. First-home buyers are sceptical it will make it easier to get into the market or lead to more supply and renters are increasingly concerned about its impact on rents.
"Beyond housing, almost three times as many Australians say the Budget will leave them worse off overall than better off. What we've seen following the Budget is a broader decline in confidence and trust that governments can solve the housing crisis."
While 89% of respondents agreed that Australia needs to build more homes to meet current and future demand, confidence in delivery was markedly lower. Nearly two-thirds (65%) said they were not confident the National Housing Accord target of 1.2 million homes by 2029 would be met, and almost three-quarters (73%) did not believe enough homes would be built over the next four years.
"It seems that many Australians are sceptical that the Budget's housing reforms will solve the housing crisis as opposed to just redistributing the winners and losers from it," Codina said. "The federal government has to lower the cost of building homes and accelerate the construction of more homes if it wants to win back the confidence of Australians."
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