Housing affordability in Australia has reached a crisis point. Rents and home prices have soared to record highs, mortgage repayments have skyrocketed due to rising interest rates, and housing policies and investment have failed to keep up with demand.
Housing and economic issues are front of mind for many Australians in the lead up to the federal election. The Ipsos Issues Monitor in February confirmed that cost of living and housing are Australians' top two concerns. This is unsurprising based on the evidence:
- In November 2024, the 10th annual Rental Affordability Index revealed that Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide all recorded their worst affordability scores in a decade, with many renters now classified under a new 'critically unaffordable' category — spending 75% or more of their income on rent.
- The 2024 Mapping Social Cohesion report revealed that 28% of people often or sometimes could not pay their rent or mortgage or went without meals, healthcare or medicines in the last 12 months due to a lack of money.
The Reserve Bank's recent interest rate cut in February promises some relief, but is it enough? And will the commitments of political parties and candidates help shift the conditions of our housing system that underpin the crisis?
This timely Folio Conversation with Dr Kate Raynor - Director of Per Capita's Centre for Equitable Housing will examine the state of housing affordability in Australia, the systemic barriers to equitable access to housing, and potential solutions.
This event is part of a collection of events and curated content on the theme 'Election 2025'. This theme explores the major issues and forces shaping Australian politics in the lead-up to the 2025 federal election.
Dr Kate Raynor
Dr Kate Raynor is the Director of Per Capita's Centre for Equitable Housing. Her career spans digital communication, academia and consulting, with previous roles as Post Doctoral Research Fellow and coordinator of housing research at the University of Melbourne and Principal Social Consultant at Umwelt Environmental and Social Consultants. She holds a Bachelor of Urban Planning and a PhD in Urban Planning from Queensland University of Technology.
Kate is passionate about the role of research and advocacy in supporting a more just housing system. Kate is an acknowledged thought leader and expert in social and affordable housing and has published widely in academic journals, industry reports, news media and articles. She has lead research projects on older women’s homelessness, experiences of stigma and housing satisfaction in public housing, housing stress during COVID-19, access to crisis accommodation for survivors of family violence, just transitions in Australia’s renewable energy zones and perceptions of high-density housing.
She is currently a member for the City of Melbourne Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, formerly a member of the Lord Mayors Charitable Foundations Affordable Housing Challenge committee, and a frequent guest lecturer at the University of Melbourne and Monash.
Event Details
We will be serving drinks and nibbles from 6pm onwards, with the conversation starting at 6:30pm.
