Submissions

Submission to the new Aged Care Act

HAAG's recommends that the new Act recognise diversity characteristics and the impact of housing and homelessness on Aged Care Service Provision. There should be better collaboration and coordination between governments and departments, and funding for additional, tailored specialist housing support services for older people.

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Submission to the Inquiry into the worsening rental crisis in Australia

Our submission to the Federal Inquiry into the worsening rental crisis in Australia recommends to develop a consultative framework and national plan for rental reform, build 26,000 public and community homes per year across the country, fund a range of housing options including affordable housing, regulate short-stay accommodation, increase funding to services that are designed to support older people to navigate the housing system, increase income support payments, ensure social and affordable housing stock to be adaptable to climate change and embed universal housing design principles, implement measures to incrementally remove Capital Gains Tax and Negative Gearing, and incorporate and incentivise Mandatory Inclusionary Zoning.

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This supplementary submission addresses the question on notice in relation to rent freezes and some additional information not covered in our previous submission.

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Ten Year National Housing and Homelessness Plan - Key messages and submission guide

The Federal Government has released a discussion paper for the 10-year National Housing and Homelessness Plan, to be released in 2024. We have been calling for a national plan for many years, and see this as a good opportunity to achieve change. Submissions don’t have to be lengthy documents - simply describing your experiences and views will make a worthy submission. We’ve also prepared a guide to help write your submission, and respond to the key points for discussion.

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Inquiry into the Rental and Housing Affordability Crisis in Victoria

HAAG welcomes the opportunity to provide input into the Inquiry into the Rental and Housing Affordability Crisis in Victoria. This submission is based on our experience delivering housing and related support services to older people, research and lived experiences of older people experiencing housing stress or homelessness in Australia. We especially acknowledge the contributions to this submission made by members of HAAG’s advisory groups including Retirement Accommodation Action Group (RAAG), LGBTQIA+ reference group and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) reference group.

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Submission to the Residential Tenancies Amendment (Rental Fairness) Bill 2023

A fixed rental price must be advertised at the time a property is put up for rent. This advertised rate would act as a ceiling. Older people are already struggling to find affordable housing in an extremely competitive housing market. They are unlikely to be able to bid higher on properties on a limited income.

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National Strategy to Achieve Gender Equality

HAAG welcomes the opportunity to provide input into the National Strategy to Achieve Gender Equality. This submission is based on our experience delivering housing and related support services to older women, research and lived experiences of older women experiencing housing stress or homelessness in Australia. We especially acknowledge the contributions to this submission made by members of HAAG’s advisory groups including National Alliance for Seniors Housing (NASH), Retirement Accommodation Action Group (RAAG), LGBTQIA+ reference group, culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) reference group and NSW Lived Experience Advocacy Group (LEAG).

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Submissions to The extent and nature of poverty in Australia Inquiry

HAAG recommends to increase social housing stock, income support, engagement with communities affected by poverty, to address systemic gender inequality, develop a national agenda for older people and a implement a nationally consistent construction code to make housing accessible and adaptable to climate change.

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Submission to Draft Inspector General of Aged Care Bill

There is ample evidence to demonstrate that the Aged Care service systems are not adequately meeting the needs of older people, especially those retiring into poverty, or experiencing housing or homelessness issues. Considering this, there is a clear need to ensure the rights of those who are experiencing additional challenges or are likely to experience disadvantage should be core part of a new Inspector-General’s role.

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Comment on the Exposure Draft of proposed amendments to the Retirement Villages Act

The draft of proposed amendments to the Retirement Villages Act bill fails to address many concerns raised by and on behalf of residents, in particular around management standards and fairer fees. The bill allows the most exploitative and predatory operators to continue to operate according to ‘churn’ business models where they are incentivised to maintain high turnover rates by systematically pressuring residents to leave once their exit fees reach their maximum value. The bill abandons the concept of a rights-based framework in favour of vague unenforceable ‘principles’. Overall, the bill simply fails to address serious public concerns about exploitative business practices in the retirement village industry, much less the concerns expressed by the many residents who have made submissions to this review.

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Why the Federal Government must include older people in its National Housing and Homelessness Plan

The new Federal Government has committed to developing a National Housing and Homelessness Plan with the support and assistance of key stakeholders, including States and Territories, local government, not-for-profit and social organisations, industry bodies, superannuation funds and other experts in housing, finance and urban development. HAAG is  calling for ambitious targets along with genuine consultation of older people with lived experience of housing stress and homelessness.
 

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