Housing Affordability Crisis Dominates 2025 Australian Election

Housing affordability has become the leading concern for Australian voters ahead of the 2025 federal election, with 71 percent calling it their top social issue, according to the Salvation Army Social Justice Stocktake. Data shows that fewer than one in 100 full-time minimum wage workers in Australia can afford to rent, and a leading charity has described the situation as the worst on record. Both major parties have proposed policy fixes, but key reforms such as changes to negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount remain politically untouchable. The crisis is part of a broader international trend, as a Gallup survey indicates falling satisfaction with affordable housing in OECD countries. The persistence of tax concessions for property investors and reluctance to address them continue to be contentious issues. These factors underscore the growing urgency and complexity of the housing crisis in Australia and globally.