Housing News Digest
Housing News Digest
The Tenants' Union Housing News Digest compiles our pick of items from all the latest tenancy and housing media, sent once per week, on Thursdays.
Below is the Digest archive from November 2020 onwards. From time to time you will find additional items in the archive that did not make it into the weekly Digest email. Earlier archives are here, where you can also find additional digests by other organisations.
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Archive
'Smokescreen of Covid': can Tasmania's early election obscure the crisis in housing and health?
Adam Morton The Guardian (No paywall)The afternoon before the Tasmanian premier, Peter Gutwein, announced the election, his government released two bits of information that revealed the depth of major problems facing the state. One showed public hospital waiting lists had skyrocketed to record levels. The number of people waiting for an outpatient appointment now tops 51,000 – nearly a tenth of the island state’s population and up 11% in just six months. The other illustrated a similar jump in the number of people waiting for public housing. It now sits at more than 3800 – 9% more than a year ago.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/apr/04/smokescre…
# Australia, Public and community housing, State Government.House price growth soars to three-decade high
The New Daily (No paywall)House prices are growing at their fastest monthly pace in 32 years with Sydney properties leading the pack with a 3.7 per cent increase in March. The CoreLogic national home value index recorded a 2.8 per cent rise in March, with strong growth conditions across the country.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/property/2021/04/01/property-…
# Australia, Housing market.Sydney median house price surges $100,000 in three months
Jennifer Duke The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)Sydney’s median house price has risen $100,000 since the new year began as property values defy a global pandemic, leaving investors and first-home buyers battling it out at auctions. ... Major banks, economists and analysts now suspect the boom could slow rapidly due to expectations regulators may put their foot on the brakes to stop the market from overheating.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/sydney-median-house-pric…
# NSW, Coronavirus COVID-19, Home ownership, Housing market.Renters in danger of losing their homes unless government injects financial aid, MP's warn
Ashley Cowburn (Paywall)MPs are demanding the government urgently address the crisis in rent arrears by introducing a package of financial support to those who have fallen behind on payments during the pandemic. (The Independent)
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/rent-arrears-covi…
# Hot topic International, Eviction, Rent, Coronavirus COVID-19.Liberal senator backs redeploying of superannuation early access scheme
Jennifer Duke The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)Liberal Senator Andrew Bragg wants the Morrison government to redeploy an emergency scheme introduced at the height of pandemic letting workers withdraw $20,000 from their superannuation for other purposes such as first home deposits.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/liberal-senator-backs-re…
# Australia, Home ownership, Housing market.Amended Glebe proposal a “great win” for social housing advocates
Allison Hore (No paywall)Social housing advocates are celebrating a “huge win” following the announcement a new development proposed for Glebe would be fully set aside for social housing. The proposed housing development which will spread across two sites in Glebe, 17-31 Cowper Street and 2A-2D Wentworth Park Road, has been amended to now deliver 100 percent social housing. (Inner West Independent)
https://cityhubsydney.com.au/2021/03/amended-glebe-proposal-a-gr…
# NSW, Public and community housing, Campaigns and law reform, Estate renewal, State Government.Protesters disrupt Glebe auction
Allison Hore (No paywall)The auction of a three bedroom terrace house in Glebe was disrupted by protesters. On the evening of the 10th of March, public housing residents and advocates surrounded the front of a terrace house at 92 Cowper Street in Glebe in an attempt to disrupt an auction which was planned to take place there. (Inner West Independent)
https://cityhubsydney.com.au/2021/03/protesters-disrupt-glebe-au…
# NSW, Public and community housing, Campaigns and law reform, Estate renewal, State Government.Why do Tasmania’s property prices keep going up?
Sue Williams Domain (No paywall)https://www.domain.com.au/news/why-do-tasmanias-property-prices-keep-going-up-1030928/?utm_campaign=strap-masthead&utm_source=smh&utm_medium=link&utm_content=pos4&ref=pos1
https://www.domain.com.au/news/why-do-tasmanias-property-prices-…
# Australia, Coronavirus COVID-19, Housing market.