Productivity Commission endorses ACT’s plan to get houses built

The Productivity Commission has endorsed housing affordability policies ACT outlined in January, says ACT Leader David Seymour.

“Just like ACT, the Productivity Commission has endorsed fundamental reform of planning laws like the RMA, instead of just tinkering like National has done.

“Specifically, they point out that ‘the natural and built environments require different and distinctive regulatory approaches’. This echoes ACT’s view that ‘The central problem is that we regulate the urban environment like it is a natural environment.’

“The Commission is also onside with ACT’s focus on providing new tools for councils to fund infrastructure, such as targeted rates on areas of new development.

“ACT and the Commission also agree on a price-based trigger point forcing councils to release land for housing.

“These are all common-sense ideas that will actually get houses built and end the chokehold on land supply created by red tape. ACT, the Productivity Commission, and the New Zealand Initiative, and Local Government New Zealand are all onside with this thinking.

“Meanwhile, New Zealand political parties try to distract voters by focusing on foreigners and investors.

“As of this morning, the Prime Minister has started talking about an RMA ‘overhaul’. Aside from being several years late to the party, he will need a stronger ACT to provide the votes to pass such an overhaul.

“Only a stronger ACT, with more MPs after the election, will make the government listen to the experts and actually get houses built.”

ENDS

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