Housing affordability 'a threat to nation'

It's a scary thing to read that 70% of renters (at least in VIC) are suffering rental stress ie: paying more than 30% of their gross income in rent. However, it's not surprising given the low vacancy rates and lack of investor activity in the market up until recently. This was surely predictable.

Perhaps it's time the federal and state govts looked at reducing disincentives to private investors as well as encouraging schemes to larger bodies and organisations. Of particular concern is the lack of inner city and expensive suburb rental houses, given the huge holding costs to investors. Land tax alone is a turnoff, let alone other cashflow losses.