Jonathan Sriranganathan’s spray at colleagues over housing deal
Brisbane Lord Mayoral candidate Jonathan Sriranganathan has hit out at his Greens colleagues, accusing the federal party of not consulting members before giving in on housing negotiations.
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Brisbane Lord Mayoral candidate Jonathan Sriranganathan has taken a swipe at his own Greens colleagues, accusing the federal party of giving in on housing negotiations without securing enough concessions and not consulting members enough.
It follows the Albanese government and Greens coming to an agreement to pass the $10 billion Housing Affordability Future Fund, with the minor party securing $3 billion in additional funds for social housing but rolling over on calls for a rental cap or freeze.
Mr Sriranganathan posted on Mr Bandt’s Facebook page that he was “unhappy” with the development.
“You’ve given up your leverage without extracting enough concessions,” the former Brisbane City councillor said.
“There are thousands of renters across the country who would’ve supported you to hold the line, but federal Greens MPs made this decision without consulting other Greens members/supporters.
“I reckon you should have held out for more.
“If people spend time volunteering to go doorknocking for you to build your leverage and negotiating power with federal Labor, you should find ways to include them in decisions about how that power is used.”
Griffith MP and Greens Housing spokesman Max Chandler-Mather was the Greens key negotiator and face of its campaign to push for more on social housing and demands for a rent cap or freeze.
The Greens ran a large, grassroots doorknocking campaign against Labor’s housing policy, labelling it a $10 billion gamble on the stockmarket.
The Courier-Mail is seeking comment from federal Greens leader Adam Bandt.
Mr Bandt on Monday said the party was not giving up on its demands for a rental freeze or cap, saying there was more legislation coming up with which they could pressure the government over the issue.
“As we’ve learned through the course of this year, a strong community campaign where renters find their voice gets results. $3 billion that will help renters is now going out the door thanks to the Greens,” he said.
“We will use that same pressure, that same power, to push for a rent freeze and rent caps.”
It is not the first time Mr Sriranganathan has taken a swipe at his federal colleagues.
In September last year, after the Courier-Mail federal Greens MPs shareholdings and investment properties, Mr Sriranganathan posted on social media that his view was that it was a conflict of interest for any politician to own investment properties as they had “strong personal financial interest in rents and house prices continuing to rise”.
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