Housing affordability is a complex issue with many moving parts. While some parts of the problem are beyond the domain of the federal government, in particular the supply of land, the federal government can play an important role in helping make housing more affordable.

Loans for residential rental property have expanded rapidly, increasing from 16 per cent in 1992 to 40 per cent in 2014. Rapidly increasing numbers of rental properties has led to rising rental rates as the increasing number of rental properties will come out of the available pool of housing, and mist increase the number of renters. Rental rates have risen from just over 22 per cent in 2001 to 29 per cent in 2012.