Jordon Steele-John (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A recent survey found that the two most important issues for people in Western Australia are cost of living and housing. The survey found that 82 per cent of people said that their housing costs had increased, and nearly half of respondents said that they were now very concerned about their ability to cover their housing costs. People aren't cutting back on food. The survey found that 37 per cent of people who gave their view said they were very unsure and believed they would be unable to cover a $500 unexpected bill without borrowing money, using a credit card or, in other ways, going into debt like selling an asset.

The experience of renters in Perth is harrowing. There are so many people in WA who can no longer afford to live where they need to, pushed out of their communities and their connections to schools, support networks and a place to call home. In Perth right now, the median Perth rental price of a house is $780. The vacancy rate is 0.8 per cent. We have this situation because major party politicians have left renters behind for decades, choosing to set government policies to the detriment of renters, choosing to put renters in stress, choosing to subject renters to unsafe homes and choosing to subject renters and families to packing up their homes and moving into their cars and not knowing where to turn next.