Housing Crisis Not a Class Struggle Between Young and Old, Inquiry Told

The head of a peak seniors body warns many older Australians struggle with cost of living and that younger generations face a tough future.

An aerial view of houses being built at a brand new housing development in the outer south eastern suburb of Clyde in Melbourne, Australia on May 12, 2026. Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images

The head of Australia’s peak seniors advocacy body has argued the nation’s housing crisis should not be viewed as class warfare between generations, warning that today’s young Australians could become tomorrow’s housing-insecure retirees.

Appearing before the Select Committee on Intergenerational Housing Inequity, Chris Grice, CEO of National Seniors Australia, said housing affordability was a problem that followed people throughout their lives, rather than a constant battle between younger and older generations.