Providing for The Locals? Australian Local Governments and Their Capacity to Supply Affordable Housing

Abstract

This thesis analyses the challenges local governments in Australia have in providing affordable housing in their local government areas. The study fills the knowledge gap of understanding the firsthand experiences of Councillors and council employees in their quest to push for (or block) affordable housing in their local area. It has been long thought that local governments are not responsible for providing affordable housing, but as the housing situation becomes more dire across all demographics, the realisation that every level of government has a role to play is becoming ever more pressing.

The legislated power to provide housing for low-income individuals and households rests primarily with the State governments. However, even without the legislated responsibility, a proportion of local governments have been playing a role in delivering (either directly or indirectly) affordable housing to their residents since the 1950s. My work briefly tracks that history in the broader housing policy environment of Australia and focuses on the contemporary impetus behind the decision and policy makers who go beyond what is expected, and endeavour to provide some affordable housing for their residents. My research is encompassed by the one question; why are some councils providing affordable housing and others are not, and how do they manage the challenges and opportunities?

I have approached answering the question through the theoretical frameworks of the financialisation of housing and human rights. The financialisation of the housing framework provides a context for understanding the challenges local governments face in this current period of neoliberalism where housing is increasingly viewed as primarily a commodity rather than shelter. In gathering my data, I have used semi-structured in-depth interviews of Councillors and council employees, conducted desktop reviews of affordable housing policies councils have adopted, and observed affordable housing stakeholder workshops and on-line council meetings. I have focused on three metropolitan councils of Cardinia, Merri-bek, and Moonee Valley, both in Melbourne, the two regional councils of Greater Bendigo and Greater Shepparton in Victoria, and two rural councils of Hepburn and Mount Alexander, also in Victoria. These councils were selected on the basis that they are all under the same legislative responsibility of the Victorian government, and give a spread of metropolitan, regional, and 5 rural perspectives. In addition, I have focused on the City of Sydney in New South Wales (NSW) and Lismore in NSW to compare local governments from different states to see if there are learnings to be gleaned from other jurisdictions.

Councils have long been the government closest to the people, and they have power to enable a healthy, safe and functioning local government area, however over the recent past the expectation of local governments to step into other areas like environmental sustainability and affordable housing has increased. I argue that councils have some capacity to step into the space of providing affordable housing in their municipality, however that capacity depends on local champions and resources of the local government in question.