Two independent politicians are leading a push forin Australia.
Human rights are standards based on basic principles of dignity, equality and respect.
Federal Senator David Pocock and MP Kylea Tink are introducing legislation in both houses of Parliament this week.
The plan would require the Government to address the housing crisis with a new national housing and homelessness plan.
Pocock and Tink have criticised the Government’s current approach as “modest”.
Human rights
A Human Rights Act (HRA) outlines a country’s human rights protections. Australia is the only Western democracy with no HRA or Constitutional Charter.
Instead, it relies on the Constitution, national laws like anti-discrimination legislation, and international treaties. For example, Australia is a signatory of the UN Human Rights Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural rights — a treaty recognising “adequate food, clothing, and” as essential human rights.
However, these rights aren’t protected under Australian legislation.
Housing crisis
Australia currently has historically high property prices and record-low rental vacancy rates.
The 2021 national census found 50% of people aged 30-34 were homeowners, down from 64% in 1971.
A report from rental monitoring group PropTrack in March showed rental affordability in Australia has hit its worst level in 17 years.
New plan
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New legislation to be tabled by Pocock and Tink would require the Government to adopt a ‘National Housing and Homelessness Plan’.
Within a year, it would require the Government to share detailed plans to end homelessness, boost housing supply and affordability, and improve housing access for people with disabilities within a decade.
An independent agency would oversee the progress of the Housing and Homelessness Plan.
The Housing Minister would need to provide an update every three years after publishing the plan.
The Independents say having a 10-year strategy would mean all sides of politics would be responsible for ensuring the plan is on track.
Open letter
117 housing experts, politicians, former MPs, and advocates have also signed an open letter calling on Housing Minister Julie Collins to adopt the plan.
The letter blames Australia’s “mounting housing and homelessness problems” on “the absence of a meaningful and well-informed national housing plan”.
Former Labor Senator Doug Cameron and ex-Liberal MP John Alexander are among the letter’s signatories.
Government reply
Any bill introduced to Parliament by a non-government politician is known as a “private members bill”. To pass, it would need the support of the government and others. This is very rare.
In a statement to TDA, Housing Minister Julie Collins did not directly respond to Tink and Pocock’s plan.
Instead, she highlighted what she called the Government’s “most significant housing reforms in a generation,” including the $10 billion ‘Housing Australia Future Fund.’ The plan includes building 30,000 affordable homes over five years.
