Labor promises rent relief program extension after Perth was declared Australia’s most unaffordable city

A rent relief program for tenants to avoid evictions will be extended, the State Government has announced, as the Opposition seized on figures branding Perth the most unaffordable capital city in Australia.

In Parliament on Tuesday, Commerce Minister Tony Buti said the $5000 grants that were due to expire on December 31 will be extended another six months until June.

“This means that more tenants can clear rental arrears, meet future costs and achieve long term housing stability,” he said.

“Since we launched this program in November 2023, the program has paid out nearly $16 million to almost 3700 households averaging $4,345 per household.

“Three quarters of the recipients were based in the Perth metropolitan area., with the remaining quarter living in regional Western Australia. Almost half of those assisted were families or single parent household with children.”

The Opposition last week called for the program to be extended, with Basil Zempilas declaring Perth’s “all-out housing emergency” is “our great collective shame”.

But Mr Buti said the Opposition did not support the program when it was first introduced.

“Now I’m sure the Member for Carine will be supportive of this, because when I visited Vinnies, I saw a very young photograph of him up on the board,” he said.

“I’m sure (Liam Staltari) was a volunteer at Vinnies at some stage where, if he wants to go and visit Vinnies, they will champion this program that we put into place.”

The Government was forced to defend its record on housing in Parliament on Tuesday, after National Shelter’s housing affordability index ranked Perth the most unaffordable city for tenants with median rents now consuming 32 per cent of the average household’s income.

Mr Zempilas accused Labor of blaming a growing population and the previous Barnett Government for its own “appalling” record.

“There is a level of agitation on the other side, because they do not like being confronted by the facts,” he said.

Mr Buti fired back: “Who we’re blaming is the Opposition” and accused the Liberals of blocking housing supply measures.

“They come into this house and feign concern for renters,” he said.

During Question Time, Housing Minister John Carey accused Shadow Treasurer Sandra Brewer of condemning infill plans around train stations that she previously supported as head of the Property Council.

“That side of politics has lost the confidence of the housing construction sector,” he said.