The Abbott Government's frenzy of cuts will wipe out Australia's only independent housing supply research body, the Greens warned today.

"For many Australians today rents are at crisis point and home ownership well beyond their means - the Abbott Government's plan to abolish the National Housing Supply Council will make the situation worse," said Greens spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam.

The Australian Greens said today that they remain the only party with effective policies on the table to reduce the incidence of poverty in Western Australia.

The new WA Council of Social Service Cost Of Living Report released today shows that a lack of affordable housing, increased living costs and inadequate levels of income support are driving Western Australians below the poverty line, with job seekers, single parents and families on low or fixed incomes most at risk.

The Australian Greens will today launch a plan for energy and water efficiency upgrades to social housing that will improve the lives of one million Australians.

Greens housing spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam said ‘Repowering Social Housing' will bring down the cost of living for those who need it most.

"The Greens' plan will put solar panels on the roof of every social housing home, will cut power bills for those who need it most, and will improve quality of life for the one million Australians living in social housing," said Senator Ludlam.

The Greens today launched a plan to address the affordable housing crisis by creating a new local prefabricated housing industry in WA's South West.

Greens Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam said the manufacture and installation of prefabricated housing made with local sustainable plantation timber will be a boost for local jobs, while delivering much-needed housing.

Senator Ludlam made the announcement today in Bunbury, home to WA's largest pine sawmill at Dardanup.

The Greens put housing affordability at the centre of the election campaign today with a plan to deliver 85,000 new rental homes and ease the pressure on Australian renters.

Greens housing spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam - who is also a renter - said the almost one in three Australians who rent have been ignored by the old parties.

"The old parties need to face the facts - Australia is now a nation of renters. There are 2.4 million households in one of the most stretched rental markets in the world. Renters shouldn't be treated like second class citizens.

The Australian Greens launch a new national rental standard proposal today to improve the lives of the 2.4 million Australian households - 30 per cent of the population - who rent.

“More and more Australians are unable to buy their own home and are spending vast sums of money on rent, often between a third and half of their income,” said Senator Scott Ludlam, Australian Greens Housing spokesperson.

The Australian Greens have announced a plan to tackle homelessness and long housing waiting times in the Northern Territory during a visit from Leader Senator Christine Milne.

"The Greens have a plan to build more houses and increase funding for homelessness services to help the Territory cut waiting times and get people off the streets," Senator Milne said in Darwin today with Greens Senate candidate Warren H. Williams.

The Australian Greens today launched a national survey to determine where, how, and to what extent tenants and people looking for rental properties are getting a rough deal. The Rental Health Check - http://www.greens.org.au/rental-health-check

"With escalating rents and the shortfall in available rental properties, more and more renters are competing with each other for what can be substandard, over-priced, insecure or inappropriate housing," Greens housing spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam said.

The Australian Greens have launched an innovative plan to unlock billions of dollars in new investment in social housing and to end the chronic shortage of social housing experienced by families across Australia.

Australian Greens Leader Senator Christine Milne said the Greens' Stronger Social Housing System will help 225,000 Australian singles and families currently in temporary accommodation or homeless, as they wait years for public housing.

A new report shows the housing crisis is making it harder for jobseekers to find work, the Greens said today.

Greens housing spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam said the report released today by Australians for Affordable Housing made clear that the lack of affordable housing in Australia is entrenching disadvantage.