Practitioner in Residence Presentations

Potential Roles for the Private Sector in Affordable Housing Supply

Full report (pdf, 1.5MB) | Summary (pdf, 261KB)

In this research project, Richard explores the opportunities, barriers and strategies to engage the private sector in affordable housing supply, drawing on his experience working within and across sectors in Australia and the United States.

The project builds on scholarly and policy research on the private sector’s role in affordable housing supply internationally. This research has addressed the policy levers, institutional reforms, capacity building and models that facilitated private sector involvement, along with learnings for Australia.

The project also builds on research into Australia’s existing affordable housing market and opportunities for enhancing the private sector’s investment in more new supply to reduce housing stress. 

Value Capture on Urban Road and Rail Projects: Are There Too Many Free Rides?

Full Report (pdf 2.7MB) | Summary (pdf, 419KB)

Taxpayers and motorists are bearing the brunt of massive road and rail spending in the big eastern capital cities.

However, land owners who are benefiting from this public investment are not contributing much in return for their windfall gains in property value. 

The Federal Government has been talking about value capture on transport infrastructure since 2016, but is failing to uniformly enforce their funding rule with the states which declares that private beneficiaries also have to contribute. The almost unanimous view amongst everyone other than politicians seems to be that a broad-based land tax is the ideal way to go. 

Richard Benedict is a research-practitioner with 25 years experience working in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors in Australia and the United States.

Richard has advised Governments  in NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and the Northern Territory on funding and asset strategies, policies and programs.  He has worked with major banks, investment funds, private companies, government and not for profit providers to develop joint venture affordable housing projects.

From 2011-2015, Richard was the Chief Commercial Officer at Lake Maintenance, the largest privately owned facilities management company in Australia, maintaining over 50,000 social and affordable homes. Richard is currently Director of Richard Benedict Consulting.

Steve Skinner comes from the Riverina region of NSW and has lived in the Blue Mountains for more than 20 years. He has combined degrees in Economics and Social Studies from the University of Sydney.

Steve has been a journalist over the past three decades, including Fairfax for five years (Sydney Sun-Herald newspaper); ABC Radio and TV for a decade (The Bottom Line business program; 7.30 Report; Background Briefing; 4 Corners) and Bauer Transport Media.

He was an investigative journalist for many years and has been a finalist in the Walkley Awards for journalism four times. The topic Steve has covered more than any other is transport, and he is currently a freelance writer for two Bauer trucking industry publications.

Date: Wednesday, 26th February

Time: 6:30pm - 8:30pm

Venue: New Law Lecture Theatre 026, New Law School Building (F10), Eastern Avenue, The University of Sydney, Darlington, NSW 2006

RSVP: via Eventbrite