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National Cabinet met in Brisbane today to deliver on a range of priorities for Australians, with a focus on more secure and affordable housing.

Delivering more housing supply is a vital part of National Cabinet’s plan to ensure communities thrive as they grow. All governments recognise the best way to ensure more Australians have a safe and affordable place to call home is to boost housing supply.

That’s why National Cabinet has agreed to an ambitious new national target to build 1.2 million new well-located homes over five years, from 1 July 2024. This is an additional 200,000 new homes above the National Housing Accord target agreed by states and territories last year.

The Commonwealth has committed to $3 billion for performance-based funding, the New Home Bonus, for states and territories that achieve more than their share of the one million well-located home target under the National Housing Accord. This will incentivise states and territories to undertake the reforms necessary to boost housing supply and increase housing affordability, making a positive and practical difference for Australians planning to buy a home.

This ambitious target will be supported by the Housing Support Program, a $500 million competitive funding program for local and state governments to kick-start housing supply in well-located areas through targeted activation payments for things like connecting essential services, amenities to support new housing development, or building planning capability.

The updated target will help align supply with expected demand over the next five years, and when linked with Commonwealth infrastructure funding, will produce more neighbourhoods and communities that have the services they need.

National Cabinet also agreed to a National Planning Reform Blueprint (attachment 1) with planning, zoning, land release and other measures to improve housing supply and affordability.

The Blueprint includes: updating state, regional, and local strategic plans to reflect housing supply targets; promoting medium and high-density housing in well-located areas close to existing public transport connections, amenities and employment; and streamlining approval pathways.

First Ministers also agreed on further significant measures to boost housing supply and better coordinate Australia’s migration settings including:

• Endorsing initial state and territory implementation plans under the Social Housing Accelerator. 
• Developing a principles-based, multi-year planning model for migration, to improve collaboration with states and territories on migration settings.

National Cabinet has agreed to A Better Deal for Renters (attachment 2) to harmonise and strengthen renters’ rights across Australia. This includes:

• Developing a nationally consistent policy to implement a requirement for genuine reasonable grounds for eviction.
• Moving towards limiting rent increases to once a year.
• Phasing in minimum rental standards.

These changes will make a tangible impact for the almost one-third of Australian households who rent.

Health reform

First Ministers discussed health reform, which remains a top priority for National Cabinet in 2023. They are committed to addressing the pressures facing the health system to deliver a patient-centred and sustainable Australian healthcare system that provides the best outcomes for our community. A dedicated health meeting will be held later in the year.

This media statement has been agreed by First Ministers and serves as a record of meeting outcomes.

Attachment 1:

The National Planning Reform Blueprint includes:

• Updating state, regional and local strategic plans to reflect their share of housing supply targets.
• Undertaking planning, zoning, land release and other reforms, such as increasing density, to meet their share of housing supply targets.
• Streamlining approval pathways, including strengthened ‘call in powers’, and prioritising planning amendments to support diverse housing across a range of areas e.g. by addressing barriers to subdivision for appropriate medium density housing.
• Promoting medium and high-density housing in well located areas close to existing public transport connections, amenities and employment.
• Reforms to support the rapid delivery of social and affordable housing.
• Reforms to address barriers to the timely issuing of development approvals.
• Consideration of the phased introduction of inclusionary zoning and planning to support permanent affordable, social and specialist housing in ways that do not add to construction costs.
• Rectifying gaps in housing design guidance and building certification to ensure the quality of new builds, particularly apartments.
• Improving community consultation processes.
• Adequately resourcing built environmental professionals, including planners, in local government.

Attachment 2:

A Better Deal for Renters

1. Develop a nationally consistent policy to implement a requirement for genuine reasonable grounds for eviction, having consideration to the current actions of some jurisdiction
2. Ensure provisions to allow appeals against retaliatory eviction notices are fit for purpose (e.g. evictions motivated by tenants taking reasonable action to secure or enforce legal rights, complain or disclose information about their tenancy).
3. Move towards a national standard of no more than one rent increase per year for a tenant in the same property across fixed and ongoing agreements.
4. Implement a ban on soliciting rent bidding.
5. Allow tenants experiencing domestic or family violence to:
   1. End agreements without penalty and with a streamlined process and evidence e.g. a declaration by a prescribed professional such as a doctor or support service worker;
   2. Change the locks and make security improvements without the landlord’s permission;
   3. Have their name removed from databases due to property damage caused by family or domestic violence; and
   4. With jurisdictions to consider further action to protect tenants who are victim survivors of domestic or family violence e.g. the ability to apply to have the perpetrator removed from the tenancy.
6. Limit break lease fees for fixed term agreements to a maximum prescribed amount which declines according to how much of the lease has expired (e.g. a maximum of four weeks’ rent if less than 25 per cent of the fixed term has expired).
7. Make rental applications easier and protect renters’ personal information:
   1. Prescribe a rental application form in each jurisdiction, with required documents limited to two in each of the following categories: identity, financial ability to pay rent, suitability;
   2. Require the destruction of renters’ personal information three years after a tenancy ends and three months after tenancy begins for an unsuccessful applicant;
   3. Require tenants’ personal information to be provided and corrected within 30 days of a request by a tenant or prospective tenant; and
   4. Specify information not allowed to be collected from a tenant or more generally (e.g. disputes with landlords).
8. Consider options for better regulation of short-stay residential accommodation.
9. Phase in minimum quality standards for rental properties (e.g. stovetop in good working order, hot and cold running water).

Brace yourself for a discussion on dental care access!

The Senate Select Committee Inquiry into the Provision of and Access to Dental Services in Australia is set to commence its inaugural public hearing today.

This significant event marks a pivotal step in the pursuit of equitable dental care access for all people in Australia. 

Held in Boorloo/Perth on Monday 14th August, the hearing will bring together people with firsthand experience of barriers to dental care alongside organisations including the Australian Dental Association WA, Derbal Yerrigan Health Service, the Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services and the University of WA Dentistry School.

It is expected that the Dental inquiry, initiated and chaired by Australian Greens Senator Jordon Steele-John, will make community-led recommendations to chart a pathway to Universal Access to Dental Care in Australia. 

The committee ran a survey to hear from the community. It became the largest committee survey in the parliament’s history, with 98% of the 17,000 respondents agreeing that more dental care should be free in Australia.

Senator Jordon Steele-John, Chair of the Committee and Australian Greens Spokesperson for Health said:

“We’re hearing directly from the community that escalating cost of living is forcing people to postpone vital dental visits. There is a deep urgency for the government to transform access to oral health care in this country. 

“No one should have to choose between paying their rent, paying for food, and accessing oral health care. 

“Chronic dental pain should not be a reality for anyone, let alone children, who are experiencing tooth extractions because our healthcare system fails to provide them with timely, affordable preventative dental care. 

“The lack of dental care coverage within Medicare has far-reaching implications, with preventable dental conditions leading to an astounding 83,000 hospitalisations annually. Additionally, a staggering 750,000 General Practitioner appointments are attributed to dental-related concerns each year. The inclusion of dental care within Medicare has the potential to reduce hospitalisations and make more GP appointments available.

“Governments can’t let the gap in dental care access widen. By bringing this committee to WA, I aspire to chart solutions that’ll improve access. Today’s hearing will allow us to deep dive into how the State and Federal Governments could improve access to dental care in regional WA, for First Nations People, and for those in WA prisons.”

Australia and Japan are strengthening our defence ties with the Japan-Australia Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) coming into effect.

This military agreement provides the legal framework for greater defence cooperation between the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF).

It is the first visiting forces agreement Japan has struck with any country outside the United States.

When it comes to practical outcomes, this agreement will see more training and exercises between the two countries, including;

• Japanese F-35s will deploy to Australia, to RAAF Base Tindal for the first time at the end of August
• Exercise Bushido Guardian, where Australian F-35s will be deployed to Japan for the first time in early September
• Australia will participate in Exercise Yama Sakura as a full participant for the first time with more than 150 personnel travelling to Japan in December.

The RAA will streamline more effective force cooperation, and enable each country to increase the sophistication and regularity of training, exercises and other cooperative activities.

Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Richard Marles MP said:

“The Reciprocal Access Agreement will deepen the relationship between our respective defence forces, supporting closer cooperation and strengthening the capabilities of both the ADF and the JSDF.

“Both Australia and Japan recognise the increasing complexity of our security environment and the need to grow our partnership to support a stable and prosperous region.”

QMinister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong said:

“Australia and Japan share an aspiration for a stable, peaceful and prosperous region, and this bilateral Reciprocal Access Agreement will help us deepen our defence cooperation.

“The security and defence relationship between Australia and Japan is critical to both nations, and is underpinned by our Special Strategic Partnership.”

The NSW Government is starting work on a new temporary park at Bank Street in Pyrmont for locals and visitors to play, exercise and relax. 

For years, the public land of the future Bank Street Park has been inaccessible to the community. This temporary activation marks a significant milestone and the first part of the broader Blackwattle Bay precinct to be delivered to the public.  

Located near the southern pylon of the Anzac Bridge, Sydneysiders will soon have the opportunity to take part in a variety of activities at the new pop-up park, including a basketball half court, fitness equipment, hopscotch and handball courts, at an amazing harbourside location. 

Benefitting from the shade and weather protection of the Anzac Bridge, the space will also include seating next to native vegetation and plantings.

Construction on the pop-up park at Bank Street will begin next week and is expected to be completed by mid-spring.

Visit Blackwattle Baylaunch to learn more about Bank Street Park.

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:

“We are delighted to provide the local community with early access to these fantastic public amenities. The Bank Street Pop-up Park is just the beginning, and we can’t wait to invite everyone to explore and enjoy this new space.

“The government is focused to promoting an active and healthy lifestyle for the people of Sydney and the opening of this park is a significant step towards providing new recreational activities that are free to visit, and new open space in the heart of our city. 

“This initiative is part of the ongoing revitalisation of the Blackwattle Bay Precinct. Once completed, the precinct will offer a range of world-class facilities, recreational spaces and improved access to Sydney Harbour.”

Member for Sydney Alex Greenwich said:

“For over a century, this piece of land has been inaccessible to the community. This pop-up park marks the first part of public open space accessible to the public as part of the Blackwattle Bay Precinct.

“The Bank Street Pop-up Park is just the beginning, and we can’t wait to invite everyone to explore and enjoy this new space.

“It’s also great to know that the basketball half court and fitness equipment will be maintained for the final Bank Street Park.”

Matildas fans will have free entry into Western Sydney Stadium in Parramatta and Sydney Football Stadium in Moore Park on Wednesday night to watch the team’s history-making Semi-Final at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 ^TM. 

The NSW Government has applied for the required licences and will open the two Sydney stadiums as additional screening sites to ensure football fans who did not secure tickets to the sold-out game can unite to cheer on the Matildas. 

Gates at both stadiums will open at 6.30pm ahead of the 8:00pm kick-off, with standard conditions of entry in effect.  

Tickets are not required to enter the stadiums. All fans are invited to enjoy the match free of charge and will be welcomed into the stadiums until seating capacity is reached. 

Food and beverages will be available for purchase. 

More information is available on the NSW government website. 

Fans are encouraged to use public transport to travel to the stadiums. Visit TransportNSW to plan your trip.  

Australia will take on England in the historic clash on Wednesday 16 August at Stadium Australia. The winner of Wednesday’s match will progress to the Final on Sunday night, also at Stadium Australia. 

Wednesday’s match will also be screened at the FIFA Fan Festival ^TM at Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbour, which has been attended by more than 202,000 fans throughout the tournament.  

Once capacity is reached at Tumbalong Park, the ICC Event Deck will be made available for fans to view the knock-out match on a big screen – supporters can bring their own food and non-alcoholic drinks to this location.  

Fans are advised to arrive early to avoid disappointment.  

The FIFA Fan Festival ^TM site will screen the Semi Finals and Final for free on large screens, along with live performances and street food. For information the FIFA Fan Festival, visit Sydney Fan Festival.

Other locations across Sydney and NSW will also be showing the remaining FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023TM matches. Visit SportNSW for more information. 

Western Sydney Stadium, Sydney Football Stadium and Stadium Australia are part of the Venues NSW network.