There are zero full-time renters in national cabinet

When the national cabinet sits down on Wednesday to discuss Australia’s housing affordability crisis –including changes to renters’ rights — the only people present will be home owners.

Two-thirds of national cabinet — six of its nine members, drawn from the eight state leaders and the prime minister — own two or more properties, according to their relevant state and federal disclosures. All of them own at least one property.

While roughly in line with federal politicians who own more than two properties on average, it stands in stark contrast to the one in five Australian households who own a residential property other than their own home. About a third of Australians households rent their home.

Queensland’s and Tasmania’s premiers are tied for the most properties in the national cabinet, with three each. Annastacia Palaszczuk declared owning a family home in Seventeen Mile Rocks, along with two investment properties in Sunrise Beach and Main Beach. Jeremy Rockcliff lists owning a property in Bridport along with discretionary interests in Launceston and Sassafras properties. 

Other multiple property owners include Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who owns a Marrickville home and rents out a Dulwich Hill property; WA Premier Roger Cook with Wellard and North Fremantle properties; South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas with two properties in Bowden and Hyde Park; and Northern Territory Chief Minister Natasha Fyles who owns a Nightcliff family home and an investment property in Sydney.

The remaining three leaders from the east coast have declared only one property. Victorian Premier Dan Andrews declared his family home in Mulgrave, and ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr declared his Dickson residence. NSW Premier Chris Minns, too, owns one property. But uniquely among the group, Minns is the only one who disclosed renting recently while his primary residence was being renovated.

With the government’s signature affordable housing supply legislation still yet to pass, Albanese has flagged that he will use the national cabinet as a way of addressing housing affordability. Renters groups such as the National Association of Renters’ Organisations (NARO) have called for reforms such as limiting rent increase frequency and banning no-fault evictions.

“This week’s meeting is an opportunity for our leaders to make genuine progress on rental reforms,” NARO convenor Penny Carr said.