Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Housing, Senator Gallagher. Australia is in a rental and housing crisis, and research released today confirms that yet again, loudly and clearly. A person on JobSeeker, with a mere $22,000 in income, is forced to spend at least 78 per cent of their income to rent a one-bedroom apartment in any capital city and 100 per cent of their income on rent in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Canberra. Many areas across the country are the most unaffordable they've ever been, with rent becoming 13 per cent less affordable in Sydney and 10 per cent less affordable in Melbourne and Perth this year. In cities and regions, more families are living in tents. More people are forced to live in their cars after applying for hundreds of rental properties. Minister, will you finally act and coordinate a freeze on rental increases?