Community Independent candidate for Gilmore, Kate Dezarnaulds is concerned the two major parties have ignored the full scale of Australia’s housing crisis and how it affects renters, young people and essential workers.

While Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton have focused on boosting home ownership through tax cuts, superannuation access, and deposit guarantees, Dezarnaulds believes a more inclusive and regionally responsive approach is required.

“I’m thrilled housing is finally on the national agenda. This is what we’ve been calling for since the start of the campaign,” Dezarnaulds said.

“But the only thing that will drastically increase supply is backing low-cost, easy-to-deliver housing.

"Where in these policies is the support for modular homes? For tiny homes? For the people already building smart, community-driven solutions right here on the South Coast?

“We’re in the middle of the worst housing affordability crisis in a generation. Yet both major parties continue to pour fuel on the fire with demand-side policies that will inflate prices further, while leaving renters and regional communities behind.”

Dezarnaulds said in a region like the Gilmore electorate where there is a shortage of nurses, teachers, police and paramedics, "frontline workers simply cannot afford to live in the communities they serve".

“This is not just a housing crisis. It’s a workforce crisis. It’s an economic productivity crisis. And it’s a social cohesion crisis.”

South Coast tiny house manufacturer, Rick Smith, believes regional communities are often overlooked by state and federal governments.

“People are running out of options,” said the founder of Havenwood Tiny Homes.

“We’re building high-quality, climate-smart homes for young people, essential workers, and older women with nowhere else to go, like a local woman we built for after her husband passed away.

"If politicians were serious about affordable housing, they’d be talking to people like us. What we’re doing is faster, more affordable, and better for the environment but red tape and outdated thinking keep getting in the way.”

Dezarnaulds wants the government to remove disincentives for downsizers.

"We’ve never had bigger houses with fewer people in them. Let’s make it easier to right-size," she said.

Kate with Rick and Shani Smith from Havenwood Homes. Photo: Supplied

“When two thirds of Australians are relying on rising property values for their retirement, real reform becomes politically risky but that’s no excuse for inaction.

“We need housing models that increase supply without threatening the financial security of current homeowners.

"If we don’t get this right, we’re locking an entire generation out of secure housing and failing the ones that come after them too."