Comparative Public Policy: Critical analysis of one policy area

Introduction

This research will involve an assessment of the affordable housing policy in Australia and specifically how it relates to young people in New South Wales. Eslake (2013) considers that the current housing policy in Australia has been a failure. Having affordable housing has been an important part of the Australian culture due to the important role that home ownership plays in social inclusion. From 1947 until 1961, home ownership in Australia increased from 53.4% to 70.3% (Eslake, 2013, p. 2) and has decreased to 67% (Trading Economics, 2015). Changes in government policy driven by neo-liberal economic policy is considered to be a problem. The nature of this problem as it pertains to young people in Australia is the subject of this essay.

Policy of Affordable Housing

Affordable housing is defined as housing that meets the needs of those on moderate and low incomes and housing prices that enables homeowners to be able to meet their living costs (Australian Housing, Local Government and Planning Ministers, 2006).  There has been a decline in the willingness of Australian governments at the state and Commonwealth level to ensure that the housing stock grew in proportion to the population growth rate (Eslake, 2013). Increased infrastructure charges placed on developers by state and local governments has reduced the supply of new houses (Eslake, 2013).  The Australian Government has established the Affordable Housing Working Group in order to develop innovative policies towards making affordable housing available (The Treasury, 2015). The appreciation in the prices of houses and housing supply that has failed to keep pace with population growth is creating a significant social problem (Abelson, 2009; The Treasury, 2015). Policies on affordable housing involve issues that are also economic and political in their orientation (Birrell and McCloskey, 2016)……………………….

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