Living in the city

By Rob Graham

ADELAIDE -- A well-attended public meeting here on October 19 discussed sustainable low-cost housing in the inner city. The main speakers were Hugh Stretton, author of Housing and Government, and Cliff Walsh, from the Audit Commission set up by the Brown Liberal government.

Stretton detailed the advantages that accrue from substantial public housing, including economic growth and the competition that it generates with private rental accommodation, forcing rents down. He supported the strategy adopted by the SA Housing Trust in spreading public housing across the entire metropolitan area, “creating a healthy social mix”, rather than concentrating it in outer rim suburbs or other specific low income areas which, according to Stretton, were destined for ghetto status when the economy declines.

Cliff Walsh distanced himself from the direction of the Brown government in housing. The meeting displayed very strong support for affordable public housing for all.

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