Australia and Jersey address housing affordability and ownership

The Australian Government has reaffirmed its commitment to a $47.9 billion housing agenda designed to alleviate national housing pressures. The plan focuses on assisting first-home buyers through initiatives such as a 5% deposit scheme that waives Lenders Mortgage Insurance, and a ‘Help to Buy’ program where the federal government contributes up to 40% of the purchase price for new homes. Additionally, a $10 billion initiative aims to support the construction of 100,000 homes.

In Jersey, political representatives are calling for comprehensive reforms to address housing shortages and the high cost of living. Deputy Max Andrews has proposed that the government’s Common Strategic Policy for 2026–2030 prioritize education reform and the creation of high-income jobs to enable residents to afford property.

Other proposals in Jersey include Deputy Lee Carpenter’s call for strategies to encourage university graduates to return to the island to mitigate the impact of an aging population, and Deputy Lyndsay Feltham’s amendment to prioritize renters by focusing on affordability, homelessness prevention, and the repurposing of long-term empty homes.