Unions NSW and Business NSW have formed a rare alliance to back a groundbreaking proposal to establish new housing on latent, unused Crown land, allowing essential workers to access affordable homes without the burden of land costs.
The innovative solution is part of a comprehensive submission to the Essential Worker Housing Inquiry.
Mark Morey, Secretary of Unions NSW, said: “This proposal offers a lifeline to the nurses, teachers, firefighters and police who are priced out of the communities they serve. By allowing essential workers to buy homes on unused publicly owned land, we’re not just addressing the housing crisis – we’re investing in the future of our vital public services.”
Business NSW Executive Director, David Harding, said: “For too long, our essential workers have been forced to choose between serving their community and having a secure, affordable place to live. This plan offers a practical pathway to long term home security for those who form the backbone of our society.”
The submission outlines seven key recommendations designed to make housing more affordable for essential workers, with the Crown land trust proposal standing out as a potential game-changer. Ed Cavanough, CEO of the McKell Institute, said bold solutions were needed: “This is not just a housing crisis – it’s a community crisis. When our essential workers live more than 90 minutes from work they turn up exhausted and demoralised. They deserve better.”
The housing affordability crisis has reached critical levels, with Sydney’s combined weekly rents rising by almost 60% since 2020, from $519 to $829. This surge, coupled with record-low vacancy rates, has created a desperate situation for many essential workers.
As well as establishing new essential worker housing on Crown land, the McKell report recommends expanding inclusionary zoning, ensuring a portion of new residential developments is reserved for essential workers, and providing loan guarantees to encourage investment in essential worker housing. The submission also calls for an expansion of the Shared Equity Home Buyer Helper program and doubling the portfolio of the Teacher Housing Authority by 2030. These interventions are intended to provide immediate relief while setting the groundwork for long-term improvements in housing accessibility for essential workers.
The submission warns that without intervention, the state risks losing essential workers, while also emphasising the impact on local economies and productivity.
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