Overview
- Anglicare’s 2026 Rental Affordability Snapshot reviewed 48,776 listings nationwide and found one home affordable for a person on JobSeeker and none for someone on Youth Allowance.
- Western Australia stands out as the tightest market, with a $747 weekly median rent, a 0.5% vacancy rate, and a household income near $130,000 needed to avoid housing stress.
- Brisbane’s check found only nine rentals affordable for people on income support and fewer than 1% affordable for minimum‑wage renters as total listings fell about 12%.
- The snapshot recorded almost 2,500 fewer listings than the same weekend in 2025 and found sharehouse rooms now cost about $260–$280 a week, pushing even this last‑resort option beyond a single minimum‑wage earner.
- Housing advocates urged phasing out the capital gains tax discount and winding back negative gearing to fund public and community homes, with speculation the May budget could lower the discount and WA groups also pressing for rent caps and a ban on no‑grounds evictions.