Senator Andrew Bragg has agreed that lower-income Australians should accept poorly built housing to boost the number of dwellings constructed nationally. This comes as internal disagreement continues regarding his proposal to cap net migration to historically low figures.
During a speech on Wednesday, the NSW Liberal moderate suggested an "economic revolution" focused on cutting red tape to build more homes. This agenda includes condensing the National Construction Code from nearly 2,000 pages to 80, aiming for more "basic and safe" homes by removing "optional extras" like compulsory energy efficiency and accessibility measures.
When asked on ABC Radio National on Thursday if this meant low-income earners should accept substandard housing, Bragg responded, "yes, definitely." He stated, "it’s more important to have a house than to not have a house," citing the current housing affordability crisis.
Bragg's comments follow a suggestion from shadow treasurer Tim Wilson on Wednesday, who implied people could wear "a jumper on in winter rather than spending huge amounts of money" on improving housing quality. Housing inequality groups, including the Australian Council of Social Services (Acoss), have criticised Bragg's suggestion, arguing that quality housing is both more affordable and safer for vulnerable communities.
Regarding immigration, Bragg proposed lowering the net overseas migration figure to 180,000 a year over four years. He stated this would be achieved through "modest reductions in international students, working holidaymakers, and some unskilled workers."