Wednesday 27 August 2024
MEDIA RELEASE
In a tight rental market, all policies are housing policy
Yesterday, it was revealed in the Senate Inquiry into proposed international student caps that Treasury had not modelled the impact that a reduction in international students would have on the housing market.
This is despite the government recommending a reduction in international students to reduce pressure on the rental market.
The Student Accommodation Council released data in April that showed international students made up only four per cent of the rental market and were not the main factor behind Australia’s tight rental markets.
“In a constrained housing market, any policy that impacts migration or students is housing policy,’ said Torie Brown, Executive Director of the Student Accommodation Council.
“It is critical that Treasury passes a housing lens over any proposed reduction in student visas. If it had, it would have found that large reductions in student visas would not fix the rental market.
“Historically low housing supply, slow planning systems, smaller household sizes and a shift towards people using their spare bedrooms as offices instead of bedrooms are the real reasons behind the housing crisis.
“We surveyed our members before the beginning of semester two and found there was availability of student accommodation in most capital cities, including good availability in Melbourne.
“Rather than cutting student numbers dramatically, it would make more sense to help suitable international students book student accommodation beds before they arrive in the country.
“Then government needs to take a long term look at the structural supply issues in our country. We can’t blame international students for a problem we created.”
In April’s Budget, the Australian Government announced universities would face caps on their international student numbers for the first time, unless they could demonstrate a new supply of purpose-built student accommodation.
ENDS
Media contact: Torie Brown | 0422 608 804 | [email protected]