Recommendation 18 (paragraph 9.32) The committee recommends the Australian Government urgently review the adequacy of Commonwealth Rent Assistance (CRA). The Australian Government notes this recommendation. CRA plays a critical role in reducing the cost of rental housing and the incidence of rental stress for people receiving income support and Family Tax Benefit (Part A) payments. In 2016-17, the Government improved rental affordability for more than 1.3 million Australian individuals, couples and families with children by spending around $4.4 billion in CRA. To maintain its value, CRA is indexed in line with increases in the CPI in March and September each year. The Government continually maintains and reviews welfare payments including CRA to ensure they are meeting their policy objectives. Recommendation 19 (paragraph 9.33) The Australian Government should look closely at its aged care policy so that it takes account of the particular difficulties confronting older Australians in the rental market. The Australian Government notes this recommendation. CRA assists age pensioners, as well as other welfare recipients on low to moderate incomes, to pay for housing costs in the private and community housing rental market. In addition, as part of a comprehensive package to address housing affordability in the 201718 Budget, the Government announced it will improve outcomes by: establishing the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation to operate an affordable housing bond aggregator to provide cheaper and longer-term finance for the community housing sector; incentivising more private investment in affordable housing through tax incentives; encouraging the development of standard long-term leases; working with State and Territory governments to reform Commonwealth funding arrangements under a new National Housing and Homelessness Agreement, retaining current funding and indexation arrangements; providing additional funding of $375 million over three years as part of the new National Housing and Homelessness Agreement to fund front line services to address homelessness; and
Recommendation 18 (paragraph 9.32) The committee recommends the Australian Government urgently review the adequacy of Commonwealth Rent Assistance (CRA). The Australian Government notes this recommendation. CRA plays a critical role in reducing the cost of rental housing and the incidence of rental stress for people receiving income support and Family Tax Benefit (Part A) payments. In 2016-17, the Government improved rental affordability for more than 1.3 million Australian individuals, couples and families with children by spending around $4.4 billion in CRA. To maintain its value, CRA is indexed in line with increases in the CPI in March and September each year. The Government continually maintains and reviews welfare payments including CRA to ensure they are meeting their policy objectives. Recommendation 19 (paragraph 9.33) The Australian Government should look closely at its aged care policy so that it takes account of the particular difficulties confronting older Australians in the rental market. The Australian Government notes this recommendation. CRA assists age pensioners, as well as other welfare recipients on low to moderate incomes, to pay for housing costs in the private and community housing rental market. In addition, as part of a comprehensive package to address housing affordability in the 201718 Budget, the Government announced it will improve outcomes by: establishing the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation to operate an affordable housing bond aggregator to provide cheaper and longer-term finance for the community housing sector; incentivising more private investment in affordable housing through tax incentives; encouraging the development of standard long-term leases; working with State and Territory governments to reform Commonwealth funding arrangements under a new National Housing and Homelessness Agreement, retaining current funding and indexation arrangements; providing additional funding of $375 million over three years as part of the new National Housing and Homelessness Agreement to fund front line services to address homelessness; and
govt-response-inquiry-husband-not-retirement-plan.docx