The Greens want to hire another 1000 public servants and create fines of nearly $80,000 for dodgy landlords and real estate agents under the party’s latest populist housing policy push, which could duplicate powers held by state and territory governments.

The minor party wants a new National Renters Protection Authority that would run inspections and investigations of real estate companies and property owners, and would have the power to refer serious offenders for prosecution and face big fines. The policy would cost $200 million a year.