Anglicare WA CEO Mark Glasson emphasised the urgent need for the government to address the pressing issues of affordable housing and the rising cost of living in Western Australia.
In a recent interview with The Sunday Times, Anglicare WA CEO Mark Glasson emphasised the urgent need for the government to address the pressing issues of affordable housing and the rising cost of living in Western Australia.
Glasson expressed disappointment with the current commitments from major parties, stating, "If you think about the state of Western Australia, the strength of our economy, and the depth of our problems in terms of cost of living and housing, we were hoping to see more scale in the commitments and a faster pace, to actually get them implemented as priority."
He highlighted the ongoing struggle for many families to find affordable housing and manage their daily budgets. "We have a really deep difficulty in finding affordable housing for people, and people are still struggling with their daily and weekly budgets, so we need to find a way to get that help on the ground quicker," he said.
"We have a really deep difficulty in finding affordable housing for people, and people are still struggling with their daily and weekly budgets."
Glasson proposed immediate measures such as introducing lower public transport fees and extending concessions for car registration and driver's licenses to those most in need. "Tomorrow we could introduce the lower public transport fees, instead of waiting for those. Rather than $2.80 single zone fare, let’s make it free for people on concession cards, for students, for people who are doing it tough," he suggested.
He also called for a commitment to extend the rent relief program, which has successfully secured accommodation for over 2200 families facing eviction. "We need to lock that in for the future, because the housing situation is not resolving itself tomorrow," Glasson added.
As the election approaches, Glasson urged voters to consider not only their own needs but also those of their neighbors and community members who are struggling. "When people go into the booth to cast their vote, I’d love for them to think first of them and their family and what they need from the next government but also to extend that to their neighbors and their families that they know at school, and to those people who aren't doing so well at the moment," he said.
Looking ahead, Glasson stressed the need for the next government to act swiftly to ease the pressure on families facing real challenges. "The next government needs to hit the ground running. We need to do those things to ease the pressure on families that are facing real challenges right now," he emphasised.
- "The next government needs to hit the ground running."
Anglicare WA continues to advocate for bold and immediate action to address the housing and cost of living crisis, ensuring a better future for all Western Australians.
