The Australian government has promised to spend billions on housing programs as it tries to appease mounting voter angst about a chronic shortage of homes. The new package, announced ahead of next week’s budget which is expected to focus on the cost of living, is mainly comprised of funding commitments for the country’s states and territories. It includes A$9.3 billion ($6.1 billion) over five years to build and repair social housing and combat homelessness, A$1 billion for new housing infrastructure like roads and sewers, and A$1 billion for crisis housing for people fleeing domestic violence. “This isn’t about one ... (full story)