[no bill text published] NSW Affordable Housing Must Be Managed by Registered Providers and Held Forever, and Certain Developments Must Be at Least 50% Affordable

Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Affordable Housing) Bill 2024

Private Member's Bill

17 Oct 2024: This bill was voted against and will not be discussed further (Defeated).

Legislative Assembly

Legislative Council

Assent

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Topics

affordable housing community housing providers housing housing consent housing development land use low income housing tenancy urban planning

Introduced by: Jenny Leong MP (GRN)

Links to official parliament websites

Official page: progress through parliament

Official page: bill text and explanatory notes

Effects of this bill

If this bill passes, it means that:

Consent authorities cannot approve affordable housing developments unless a registered community housing provider manages the homes forever.
At least 50% of dwellings must be used for affordable housing for certain developments under the Housing SEPP; these must also be managed by a registered provider.
Affordable housing is now defined as homes for very low, low, or moderate income households; rent must be no more than 30% of a household's gross income.
Consent authorities must give the Planning Minister details about the building, bedroom counts, and the housing provider within 14 days of the occupation certificate being issued.
Developers must notify the Planning Minister and the Registrar of Community Housing within 3 months if the housing provider changes.
The Planning Minister must keep a register of all affordable housing developments.

The Debate

What different members said when this bill was debated:

Tamara Smith GRN

“I continue my contribution to debate on the Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Affordable Housing) Bill 2024. In New South Wales "affordable housing" is defined under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 as:”

Official source →

Liza Butler ALP

“I oppose the bill brought forward by the member for Newtown, the Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Affordable Housing) Bill 2024.”

Official source →

Charishma Kaliyanda ALP

“I oppose the Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Affordable Housing) Bill 2024 brought forward by the member for Newtown.”

Official source →

Marjorie O'Neill ALP

“I make a very brief contribution to debate in opposition to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Affordable Housing) Bill 2024. Conceptually, I understand the bill. I understand what the member for Newtown is trying to do, but the reality is that the bill will not achieve what it needs to achieve. In theory, I get it, but it is a theoretical utopian view of how things can work.”

Official source →

Nathan Hagarty ALP

“I oppose the Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Affordable Housing) Bill 2024, brought forward by the member for Newtown.”

Official source →

Jenny Leong GRN

“Before I respond in detail to the criticisms and concerns with the Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Affordable Housing) Bill 2024 which were raised by members opposite, I will clear up the back and forth about the issue of the misquote.”

Official source →

News articles and press releases

Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Affordable Housing) Bill 2024

Ms JENNY LEONG, Member for Newtown — 2024-05-16

First, it creates a new division 4.12, Affordable Housing, in the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, new section 4.71 of which sets out a clear, three-part definition of affordable housing. The Greens want to establish that as a clear definition. The definition of affordable housing states that affordable housing is for the benefit of very low, low- and moderate-income households, to be held in perpetuity and rented out at no more than 30 per cent of the gross household income of eligible households.