The federal government insists it will be “stepping up to the plate” to help lead the nation out of a homelessness crisis.
Housing and Homelessness Minister Julie Collins will address the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute on Monday, where she will commit to a national plan, in a shift away from tackling the issue on a state-by-state basis.
“When you look right across the country, we have a national housing affordability issue,” she told ABC radio on Monday.
“This is not an issue that’s occurring just in one state or one territory, this is a national issue.
“It’s not going to happen overnight, but at least we’re starting to make an effort and show some leadership and stepping up to the plate.”
Ms Collins will also accuse former coalition governments of a decade of inaction on homelessness.
In the run-up to May’s election, Labor promised to set up a $10 billion housing fund to build 30,000 new social and affordable homes within five years.
When asked if she accepted the two major parties had played a role in the current housing affordability crisis, the minister said it was an issue challenging the entire world, not just Australia.
Ms Collins said the state governments were already implementing “innovative programs” that were addressing the crisis, but said a co-ordinated response was needed.
“Some of them admit that perhaps they didn’t do things as quickly as they could have or should have, but by all working together, we can actually try and tackle some of it and we’ve got a national plan,” she said.
“I certainly hope to form a great relationship with local government and get everybody trying to work together,” she said.
Ms Collins said she expected it would take 18 months to develop the national strategy, and wanted to see legislation introduced before the end of the year.
