Housing News Digest
Housing News Digest
The Tenants' Union Housing News Digest compiles our pick of items from all the latest tenancy and housing media, sent once per week, on Thursdays.
Below is the Digest archive from November 2020 onwards. From time to time you will find additional items in the archive that did not make it into the weekly Digest email. Earlier archives are here, where you can also find additional digests by other organisations.
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Archive
The out-of-the-box solution to Australia’s housing problems
Jess Davis ABC (No paywall)The donga is a quintessential Australian term that no one really knows the origin of. For those unfamiliar with the term, according to the Macquarie Dictionary, it’s a “makeshift shelter” or “a portable prefabricated structure”. It’s often associated with temporary accommodation and offices, in industries like mining and construction. If you went to a state school during the second half of the 20th century, you’ll likely associate prefab with demountable classrooms.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-17/modular-housing-to-build-…
# History Australia, .To Create Abundant Housing, Ignore the YIMBY Playbook
Brian Shearer Washington Monthly (No paywall)Since Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson’s book Abundance was published, the policy world has debated the causes of our current housing supply drought. Abundance argued that zoning laws are the culprit, as part of its broader thesis calling for liberals to embrace a policy vision oriented around building more of what we need (i.e., “abundance”) primarily through targeted deregulation of private industry and de-proceduralization of government. Other analysts believe that it is consolidation in the housing market that slows development. But both camps aim to expand housing supply, and solutions are not always derived from the causes of the problem. Cancer isn’t caused by the absence of chemo drugs or radiation, but that is often the treatment. Instead of debating causes, focusing on what policy solutions work best might be a better approach.
https://washingtonmonthly.com/2025/08/14/cities-can-have-abundan…
# International, .Bass Coast locals camping in the bush due to high rents and scarce social housing
Madeleine Stuchbery and Tavleen Singh ABC (No paywall)Former nurse Veronica has lived in public housing at Wonthaggi on Victoria's Bass Coast for the past eight years. It's a picturesque part of the state, where rental properties are almost impossible to find. Like many coastal areas, the Bass Coast experienced a surge in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic, as city residents eager to escape lockdowns and able to embrace remote work made their way to regional areas. The result was higher property prices and a shortage of rentals.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-07/bass-coast-housing-afford…
# Australia, Public and community housing.Wesley Mission secures homes for 26 young people
Alison Paul NBN News (No paywall)A 34 year old mum and her daughter have been given a second chance thanks to a housing initiative by Wesley Mission. The charity is celebrating a major milestone this National Homelessness Week, securing homes for 26 young people.
https://www.nbnnews.com.au/2025/08/09/wesley-mission-secures-hom…
# Video Australia, .Gippsland forum hears how the private sector can help house the homeless
Rachael Lucas ABC (No paywall)On any given night, Australia's 122,000 homeless people are either sleeping rough outdoors, in their cars or couch surfing. All while thousands of dormant and vacant public and commercial buildings across the country sit empty. It is an irony not lost on Robert Pradolin, founder and executive director of the not-for-profit organisation, Housing All Australians. "Like most Australians, I assumed that our governments were looking after our vulnerable people and I discovered that they weren't," he said.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-19/calls-for-private-sector-…
# Must read Australia, .Report finds children’s not-for-profit splashed taxpayer funds on staff properties, luxury beanbags
Linda Silmalis Daily Telegraph (Paywall)A “not-for-profit” organisation set up to look after the state’s most vulnerable children used taxpayer funds to lease investment properties owned by its senior staff at an inflated price – with the scheme even advertised to staff. A confidential audit commissioned by the NSW government – and obtained by The Sunday Telegraph – also found the agency splashed $70,000 on luxury beanbags. The audit found invoices for Apple phones, air fryers and mattresses did not state whether the items ended up being used to deliver services for children in its care. The report was tabled in state parliament on Friday. The organisation received almost $70m in public funding last year alone.
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/report-finds-children…
# Australia, .Explained: How negative gearing affects Aus property market
Kate McIntyre news.com.au (No paywall)Calls are growing louder for bold reform on negative gearing in a bid to open the door to the Australian housing market for young Aussies currently locked out. Unions and other advocates have thrown their support behind a plan to limit negative gearing tax breaks to those with one investment property only, which they believe would stop disproportionate benefits going to the wealthy and encourage the freeing up of housing supply for buyers seeking to own and occupy a home. Negative gearing delivers billions of dollars in annual tax benefits and has long been a target for those who want to see the process scrapped.
https://www.news.com.au/finance/real-estate/explained-how-negati…
# Hot topic Australia, .NSW’s ‘renovictions’ loophole could undermine the progress made with no-grounds evictions
Alan Morris and Chris Martin The Conversation (No paywall)There was much cause for celebration when no-grounds evictions were abolished in New South Wales on May 19. Keeping a pre-election promise, the NSW government amended the state’s Residential Tenancies Act to end no-grounds evictions and add new reasonable grounds for termination instead. In doing so, NSW joined the ACT and South Australia, which had recently abolished no-grounds evictions.
https://theconversation.com/nsws-renovictions-loophole-could-und…
# Hot topic NSW, Eviction, Rent, Repairs.