Independent ACT Senator David Pocock has introduced a private senator’s bill that would require affordable housing to be included in residential developments on Commonwealth land sold or leased to private developers.
The bill proposes a default requirement that 30 per cent of homes built on Commonwealth land be affordable housing, with the proportion able to be varied by regulation.
If passed, the legislation would apply to future developments on federal land, including the proposed sale of the CSIRO Ginninderra site in Canberra and surplus Defence land around Australia.
Senator Pocock said the measure would help boost affordable housing supply, arguing current Commonwealth programs would not meet demand.
The bill also sets affordability criteria for rents and includes penalties for non-compliance, while exempting some sites because of factors such as size, contamination or low housing demand.
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