The Allan government is facing increasing pressure as a new poll reveals widespread dissatisfaction with its handling of the state’s housing crisis. As the anniversary of the government’s Housing Declaration approaches—which promises 80,000 new homes annually for the next decade—nearly 70% of voters believe that the government is failing to address housing affordability.
Complicating matters further, more than half of respondents think that the first stage of the $34.5 billion Suburban Rail Loop project exacerbates the housing shortage, with support for the rail loop declining even among Labor voters.
Calls for a halt to the rail loop project are intensifying, with the Property Council of Australia urgently requesting that funds be redirected to alleviate the housing crisis.
According to a RedBridge poll of 1,500 Victorian residents, nearly 46% of Labor supporters view the rail loop as an obstacle to addressing housing issues, compared to 25% who prioritize the project.
Recent data also highlights a significant drop in the first preference vote for Labor, which now trails the Coalition by 10 points, standing at 30% versus 40%, with both parties nearly tied on a two-party basis. Affordable housing emerges as a critical issue for voters, with 41% of Labor voters expressing dissatisfaction with the government’s performance.
Cath Evans, executive director of the Victorian Property Council, emphasized the urgent need for targeted measures to boost housing supply and achieve the government’s ambitious goals.
