Cost of Living Discussions in the House of Reps (10/02/2025)

Cost of Living and Housing Affordability

• Cost of Living Concerns: Multiple members voiced concerns regarding rising costs of living in Australia. Discussions highlighted the pressures on families due to increasing prices in essential areas such as housing and daily necessities (Page 101).

• Housing Policy Initiatives: Prime Minister Albanese introduced a $32 billion housing plan aimed at improving housing supply and affordability. He emphasized recent legislative efforts intended to stabilize the housing market and increase investment in building new homes (Page 101).

• Childcare Affordability: The parliament discussed the importance of affordable and accessible childcare as vital for family support. Under the Albanese Labor government, a cheaper childcare policy reportedly benefitted over one million families, saving them approximately $2,768 on average (Pages 68-69). Plans were also announced to replace existing subsidies with a “three-day guarantee” to increase inclusivity in childcare support (Page 70).

• Critiques of Childcare Costs: Some members criticized the government’s management of childcare costs, citing specific examples of families having to reduce attendance due to financial constraints. There were calls for better quality alongside affordability (Page 72).

• Long-term Economic View: There were broader discussions about the impact of current government policies on economic recovery and the need for sustained investments in infrastructure and community services to support ongoing and future housing and cost-of-living challenges (Page 130).

• Rising Housing Prices: During “Questions Without Notice,” concerns were raised regarding skyrocketing rents and housing prices. Opposition members pushed for accountability from the government on whether they would stop tax benefits that some believed were inflating these costs (Page 101).

• Skills Shortage and Economic Impact: Discussions on the impact of economic policies also extended to workforce shortages in skilled trades. Critiques suggested that rising costs of living and materials contributed to a decline in apprenticeship placements, further aggravating housing affordability since skilled labor is crucial for construction and housing (Page 134).

• Local Housing Issues: Members like Zali Steggall underscored ongoing housing crises in specific electorates, pushing for community engagement in surveys related to housing solutions and advocating for government reforms targeting both housing construction and the efficient use of existing housing stock (Page 137).

These discussions reflect an ongoing political dialogue surrounding pressing social issues related to the cost of living and housing affordability in Australia.