Paul Keating says current housing situation cannot be allowed to persist

The growing issue of affordability has seen former Prime Minister Paul Keating weigh in with his thoughts at MaxCap Group’s Developers and Dealers Forum last week, saying that the current situation cannot persist.

Keating said that there is a huge need for increased housing supply and a financing system to support developers in bringing those properties to fruition.

“We cannot persist with this position we are in where our children cannot afford to house themselves,” Keating said.

“No amount of demand is going to improve affordability without a supply response, which will determine a price equilibrium over time,” he noted.

In fact, the financing for the supply may just be the evolution of superannuation funds, the assets of which may at some point outshine those of the banks. He said that they could eventually be used to fund developments.

“Superannuation funds will have to do things in the spaces traditionally left to banks, such as property development, and we will see a shift in the balance in financing this industry,” he said.

Meanwhile, the banks suggested future partnerships with offshore banks, with specific reference to the Asia Pacific region.

Colin Robertshaw, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia's national head of property finance, business and private banking, said Chinese banks may be the alternative needed when banks hit full capacity.

MaxCap Group chief investment officer Brae Sokolski, said one thing was for certain: something will need to be done.

“There is no doubt that the traditional one-size-fits-all approach to finance is not the optimal solution in the current development environment and has in fact resulted in a shift towards utilising specialist consultants that can bridge the gap between development and finance,” said Sokolski.