6 August 2024
The Greens are calling on the State Government to introduce a tax on vacant residential property and support the conversion of empty office spaces in the CBD to affordable housing as Homelessness Week 2024 begins.
“We are in the middle of the worst housing crisis in generations. According to the 2022 census, there were 83,821 vacant properties in SA and it has been estimated that almost 20% of office spaces in the CBD are empty. Meanwhile, we have people sleeping on the street and over 16,000 people on the waitlist for social housing,” said Greens SA Housing Spokesperson Robert Simms MLC.
“Last year, the Victorian Government announced that it will be expanding its tax on vacant residential properties to include the entire state to encourage development and improve housing supply. The Malinauskas Government should follow the example of its Labor counterparts in Victoria and introduce similar taxes here in SA, which the Greens estimate could raise up to $880m over 4 years — enough to build 1,760 new homes.”
“The Government should also offer incentives to support the conversion of vacant office space into affordable housing. It’s clear that the status quo isn’t working, and more is needed to tackle this crisis.”
Last week, a report from the Auditor-General found that 71% of specialist homelessness services clients did not have their need for long-term housing met by the SA Housing Trust in 2022-23 and monthly specialist homelessness services clients increased by 9% between 2019-20 and 2022-23.”
The Greens have consistently for the State Government to build more public housing and restore the original mission of the Housing Trust.