affordable and secure housing
Australia’s housing system is failing too many people — from renters facing instability to young families priced out of ownership. The Australian Centre Party supports a pragmatic, market-aware approach to increase housing supply, improve rental security, and remove regulatory barriers that inflate costs. We support long-term planning, public–private partnerships, and targeted incentives to ensure every Australian has access to secure, affordable housing — without distorting the market or fuelling inflation.
More homes, better access, smarter regulation
Access to affordable, secure housing is one of the most basic conditions for a stable and prosperous society. Yet across Australia, too many people are being locked out — whether it's young families priced out of ownership, renters facing insecurity, or essential workers pushed away from the communities they serve. The housing crisis is not the result of a single policy failure — but of decades of neglect, political risk-aversion, and regulatory bottlenecks.
The Australian Centre Party believes housing policy must be driven by supply, security, and system-wide reform. Our approach is grounded in economic reality, long-term thinking, and fairness — not populism or ideology.
We support increasing supply as the number one priority. That means reforming planning and zoning laws — particularly in urban and infill areas — to encourage medium-density development near jobs, transport, and services. Local and state planning systems should be incentivised to approve more housing faster, with infrastructure investment tied to clear housing targets.
We also support build-to-rent developments, co-living models, and shared equity schemes that allow Australians to enter the housing market without taking on unsustainable debt. Government should act as a partner — not just a regulator — in enabling innovative, market-backed housing models that serve long-term needs.
For renters, we support greater security and transparency, including minimum lease standards, clear dispute resolution mechanisms, and predictable review of rents tied to market conditions. We do not support hard rent freezes or excessive regulation that discourages investment or reduces supply.
Public and community housing also have a role to play — not just for crisis support, but as long-term housing solutions for low-income and vulnerable Australians. We support targeted government investment in new social housing stock and better management of existing assets, delivered through partnerships with experienced providers.
On tax policy, we support a full review of housing-related incentives, including negative gearing, stamp duty, and capital gains tax, to ensure the system promotes access and fairness — not speculation or distortion. This review must be data-driven, non-partisan, and focused on long-term outcomes for housing availability and stability. Unlike the ideological Left, we do not believe in overregulation or freezing the market.
Unlike the populist Right, we reject “supply-only” mantras that ignore planning failures and access issues. A rational housing policy must balance investor confidence with social responsibility, and short-term relief with long-term strategy. Everyone deserves a place to call home — and a fair chance to get there.
The Australian Centre Party is committed to making that a reality through balanced, future-proof housing reform.