For decades after World War II, Australia was a nation of homeowners. But in recent decades, homeownership has fallen fast. In 1981, two-thirds of 30 to 34-year-olds owned their own home. By 2021, it was just 49 per cent.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton says he wants to turn this around, and has appointed Senator Andrew Bragg as the new shadow assistant minister for homeownership to develop policies for the Coalition to take to the next election and reverse this decline.

NSW senator Andrew Bragg and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

So, what could the Coalition promise that achieve its goal of boosting the number of home owners in Australia, and also make housing more affordable?

Its 2022 election offering – allowing people to use up to $50,000 of their superannuation to buy their first home – could help some younger Australians become homeowners.

Allowing people to dip into their super to help buy a house won’t leave them impoverished in retirement. Australians are being forced to save more via compulsory super than they need. But the big problem with this policy is that younger, poorer Australians – who are increasingly being priced out of homeownership – don’t have much in the way of superannuation.

The average superannuation balance among the poorest 20 per cent of renting households that are headed by a 25-34 year is just........

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