General News
26 March, 2025
Dyson makes election pledge on housing
INDEPENDENT candidate Alex Dyson has vowed to help develop a National Housing Plan if he’s elected, following the release of a new report which showed housing in the region was largely unaffordable.
Mr Dyson’s announcement comes after Everybody’s Home, a collective of organisations forming a national campaign to address Australia’s housing crisis, released their latest report titled Priced Out – An Index of Affordable Rentals for Australian Voters.
The report showed south west Victorians would have to make $110,000 annually – double the region’s median household income – to be able to meet the threshold of “affordable” rent, which was defined as requiring less than 30 per cent of income.
The report highlights rental costs as posing significant challenges across the entire state, which is driving regional and rural rental stress and widespread unaffordability.
Mr Dyson said the data was a damning reflection of the pain south west Victorians felt when trying to secure a roof over their head.
“When I first ran in 2019, I had conversations with hundreds of people who were experiencing significant pressures from the cost of housing,” he said.
“Sadly, in 2025, this problem has only gotten much worse.
“People have been calling out for action on housing affordability for over a decade now, and it is absolutely shameful that neither Labor or Liberal governments have done enough to address this problem.
“This includes the many years that Dan Tehan was a Minister and Member of Cabinet, and should have been fighting for decisive action to tackle this issue.”
Mr Dyson said, if elected, he would work to develop an integrated National Housing Plan to address the housing affordability crisis.
“I will do this by working across the political divide to develop a plan that incorporates the best approaches from industry, experts, the community, all levels of government and all sides of politics,” he said.
“I will also advocate to see housing and infrastructure funded in rural and regional locations.
“I will advocate for collaboration among all levels of government to fund the construction of housing and essential but expensive infrastructure like water, sewage, electricity, and roads to reduce the cost of new homes.”
Members of the community have raised concerns regarding what impact an independent MP can have at the federal level.
“In the last Parliament, Helen Haines MP fought relentlessly to get a dedicated focus on regional housing in the Albanese government’s package of housing legislation, and to get more federal government investment in the enabling infrastructure required to support new regional housing,” Mr Dyson said.
“These are real results, making a real difference for regional communities, achieved by an Independent.
“If elected, I hope to work with independents like Helen to build on these achievements, and to get even more of the housing support that our regional communities desperately need.”
Mr Dyson hit out at Mr Tehan’s record on housing, citing website theyvoteforyou.org.au as noting Mr Tehan has consistently voted against policy designed to increase housing affordability and take action on public housing.
“For too long, Wannon has been ignored by the Labor Party, and taken for granted by the Liberal Party,” he said.
“Not only have we been taken for granted, but Dan Tehan’s voting record shows that he has been actively opposed to more action being taken on housing affordability.
“My question to voters in Wannon is: why vote for Dan Tehan when he doesn’t vote for you?”
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