Australians are calling for bold action on housing; prioritising faster and increased house building as the principal measures to urgently address the ‘worst housing crisis in recent history’.
That’s the outcome of the country’s first ever national AMPLIFICATION on Housing, where the public took charge of the longstanding crisis; deliberating on real solutions to tackle one of Australia’s biggest challenges.
In a nation-first move, non-partisan and independent community-led organisation AMPLIFY brought together 100 randomly selected Australians from all backgrounds and states - homeowners, renters, young people, retirees, single parents, liberal, labor, green and independent voters- to weigh up 13 expert-developed housing reforms and decide which should be prioritised.
The Australian public’s top housing reform demands:
-
Fab Pre-Fab, from the Blueprint Institute - a practical reform to unlock cutting edge technology to build more Australian homes, more easily
-
Commuter Communities, from YIMBY Melbourne - allowing more homes where people want to live in walkable neighbourhoods near transport links
-
Renter’s Rights, from the Committee for Economic Development Australia (CEDA) - greater protections to make sure renters have a place to call home
-
Target 10%, from Everybody’s Home - a long term ambition to significantly increase the proportion of social housing by 2045
Georgina Harrisson, CEO of Amplify, said: “This is the worst housing crisis in recent history and we urgently need to see critical action. These reforms cover a wide range of areas that will stimulate supply from cutting edge construction methods to making the most of transport links to create more commuter communities. Along with increasing the proportion of social housing for Aussies doing it tough.”
“The public also recognised the plight of renters, with a super-majority of all generations supporting greater protections to make sure renters have a place to call home.”
“The Australian public has made its stance clear - now it's up to the politicians. The path to a solution that aligns with public sentiment is evident.”
The reform priorities from the public aligned with key drivers of the housing crisis. Along with many leading experts, the 100 participants identified the three top drivers of the housing crisis as: high cost of land and construction, lack of investment in public and affordable housing and excessive regulation.
Participant Ray Newland from NSW said: “My thinking has changed a lot. I've realised there are some solutions I previously dismissed that hold an important role in reform. I met heaps of people who understood the challenge from a different perspective to what I was used to hearing. I think it's easy to dismiss an idea when you can't see how it directly impacts you as an individual, but when you talk to those who are impacted it opens your mind to those ideas.”
The results from Amplify’s National AMPLIFICATION on Housing are further evidenced by critical factors identified by the organisation’s active online community, who have been discussing and debating the 13 reforms since December.
There is clear consensus that the housing crisis is seen as deeply rooted in structural issues, with a call to modernise building methods and overhaul regulatory frameworks to reduce costs and boost supply.
The Hon. Rose JACKSON, MLC, NSW Minister for Housing and Homelessness, opened the two-day event with a direct call to participants to hold open minds and find uncommon ground on real solutions.
The reforms debated were curated by some of Australia’s most prolific housing and policy experts. This includes Brendan Coates from the Grattan Institute, Robert Pradolin from Housing All Australians, Liana Downey from the Blueprint Institute and Andrew Barker from the Committee for Economic Development Australia (Build to rent), among others.
Over two days, participants examined evidence, debated solutions, and decided what needs to change. Their decisions will now shape a national advocacy campaign, turning public frustration into political action.
Dr Rory Gallagher, Chief Policy and Research Officer at AMPLIFY, added: “Community deliberation is a powerful democratic tool to create more inclusive, less polarising and more consensus-driven decision-making. Our goal is to put the Australian public at the heart of policy reform, give them a voice, and ensure their voice is heard. Our national AMPLIFICATION on Housing has enabled that.”
“People from all backgrounds, all walks of life, and with their own personal experiences of housing and homelessness came together to agree on real solutions to inform policy and find a definitive route out of this housing crisis. The reforms debated received strong support across the board, but the direction and action needed to urgently address this critical housing crisis are unmistakable.”
Research shows 95% of Australians believe housing is the biggest issue facing Australians right now. With soaring prices and shrinking options, the dream of a secure home is slipping out of reach for far too many. What's more, 75% trust each other more than the government to make the right decisions about the housing policy reform we need.
With trust in politics, government, and institutions at an all-time low, the vast majority (84%) of Australians want community at the heart of policy decisions. With a community-driven mandate for change, the set of reforms shaped by informed discussion and collective decision-making will be presented directly to policymakers, creating a powerful public demand for action.
AMPLIFY provides an inclusive community space for public engagement, and prioritises the voices of everyday Australians to ensure public concerns shape national policy directions. The organisation is non-partisan and completely independent of any political party or political agenda. Any Australian can join AMPLIFY at no cost at www.amplifyaus.org .
AMPLIFY was founded by SEEK and Square Peg Co-Founder Paul Bassat, who now serves as Chair of the organisation. Leading the team as CEO is Georgina Harrisson, former Secretary of the NSW Department of Education.
About AMPLIFY:
Australia is a great country, but we know things aren’t working the way they should. Our society has become more divided, and Australians are telling us they don’t have a say on the big issues in our society. The chaos we are seeing in many other countries is a warning sign for us. We know that things will get worse if we don’t act now. That is why Amplify was born.
Amplify is the place where Australians get to have their say and make a difference on the most important issues that we face. We are a community of Australians, from all walks of life, who care about our country. We are non-partisan and completely independent of any political party. All Australians are invited to become a member of Amplify at no charge at www.amplifyaus.org
With the right mindset and a shared commitment to our future, the Amplify community will find “uncommon ground” and identify the right solutions to the big issues facing Australia. We are much smarter collectively than individually. We will do this by bringing our community together for events in all parts of the country, facilitate online conversations, share evidence, talk with experts and together come up with the right solutions. Amplify puts people at the heart of decision-making.
We will make a difference by amplifying the voice of our community to spark change and help build the policy blueprint for Australia’s future. We will hold the people in power to account. This is how positive change will happen.
Together we will help Australia become a more prosperous, fairer, more cohesive and happier country.
If you want to shape the future of Australia, come and be part of the Amplify community.
