10 October 2016

Dunne Urges Multi-Party Support For Housing Summit

UnitedFuture leader, Hon Peter Dunne, welcomes the recommendation of the multi-party inquiry into homelessness to have a national strategy on homelessness and is urging all political parties to support a national housing summit.

The political-party review, presented in Parliament today recommended a range of policy initiatives including calling for a national strategy for reducing homelessness.

“This is precisely why I have been calling for a housing summit to address problems such as homelessness, housing for the vulnerable, first home buyers and housing affordability generally.

“I congratulate the parties involved for committing to such a strategy but call on them to expand the scope of what they are calling for,” said Mr Dunne.

“We cannot look at housing in a vacuum and treat the symptoms of housing pressures one by one, we need a multi-faceted housing summit that can address the coalition of issues that are wrapped up in housing.

UnitedFuture first called for a national housing conference on the 23rd May 2016.

“As time goes on, the call I made in May continues to ring true,” said Mr Dunne.

“Treating housing issues as a political football can only take us so far.

“A lasting solution to the current housing problem will only come when central and local government, the home building industry, the banks (including the Reserve Bank), and the social housing sector are working together.

“I welcome support for such a plan on the issue of homelessness but urge all political parties to endorse a wider summit on the issue of housing.

Ends.

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