THE ACT government has boasted about leading the nation over affordable access to public and community housing, but recent figures suggest Canberra renters are paying a hefty price tag. The Productivity Commission released data this week as part of the 2021 report on Australian government services that Housing Minister Yvette Berry pointed out demonstrates that the territory “continues to perform above the national average”. “Every Canberran, no matter their circumstances, should have access to safe and affordable housing that suits their needs,” she said. But the report also goes on to highlight that in the ACT, residents in three out of the four socio-economic categories spend the highest proportion of their incomes on rent.