Master Builders backs Finance Ministers’ commitment to housing affordability

Master Builders welcomes the focus and commitment by the Council of Federal, State and Territory Treasurers  on ways to tackle housing affordability.

“The decision by the Council on Federal Financial Relations meeting on Friday 2 December 2016 to take the Intergovernmental Agreement on Competition reforms, to next week’s COAG meeting, to be held on 9 December 2016 is a positive step toward much needed reform in housing,” Matthew Pollock, National Manager Housing said.

“A centerpiece of discussion was the proposal for the Commonwealth to provide competition payments to the State/Territories for implementing reforms that improve the availability of affordable housing, which is a long held policy position of Master Builders,” he said.

“Master Builders long held policy position is to keep homeownership within reach of everyday Australians, and that Australia needs a diverse housing stock to meet the needs of people at all income levels, all ages, and particularly for first home buyers,” Matthew Pollock said.

“Treasurer Scott Morrison sensibly noted the need for the Commonwealth to consolidate the Federal Budget in order to invest in competition payments, as well as other previous arrangements between State/Territory and the Commonwealth government, as outlined in the Harper Competition review,” he said.

“This highlights the urgent need for the Senate to pass the Government’s Budget savings,” Matthew Pollock said.

“Master Builders firmly agrees with the consensus of the Working Group Paper that formed the centerpiece of today meeting to keep the focus on removing the structural impediments to supply as a first priority,” he said.

“The recent decline in building approvals gives further reason to keep up the effort to increase the supply of new homes to put downward pressure on house prices,” Matthew Pollock said