Airbnb hits back at Greens for making them housing crisis ‘scapegoat’

Holiday rental giant Airbnb has hit back after the Federal Greens declared war on the platform ahead of the 2025 election, saying their platform was helping struggling Australians during a cost of living crisis.

Holiday rental giant Airbnb has hit back after the Federal Greens declared war on the platform ahead of the 2025 election, saying their platform was helping struggling Australians during a cost of living crisis.

Airbnb Australia said the company’s internal data showed that 73 per cent of hosts were using the money they earn to combat the cost of living crisis.

The platform was particularly popular with women, who make up 66 per cent of hosts, and a quarter of the property owners were older Australians over the age of 65.

Airbnb Australia head Susan Wheeldon says the Greens’ agenda is “disappointing” and the companywas being used as a “scapegoat” for a “genuine housing crisis”. Pictures: Supplied

The Sunday Telegraph previously revealed the Greens — who have been running an aggressive reform agenda on housing — will be targeting Airbnb for reform as part of their election policies.

But the company has hit back, with country head Susan Wheeldon said the Greens’ agenda was “disappointing” and the company was being used as a “scapegoat” for a “genuine housing crisis”.

“It’s disappointing because a lot of what they’re talking about isn’t based on data,” she said before adding the minor party’s “intent is good”.

“80 per cent only of our hosts have one listing on Airbnb (and) its their primary place of residence or family owned holiday home,” she said.

Max Chandler-Mather during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: Martin Ollman

Airbnb logo. Picture: AFP

It comes after data showed Australia has a spare 13 million bedrooms that could easily resolve the housing crisis but many Australians cannot down size due to tax or property market concerns.

Ms Wheeldon said many Australians could use the platform’s longer stay options to find tenants for their spare rooms.

“(With) 13 million of these spare rooms kicking around, there is such a great opportunity,” she said.

“(We should be) maximising the existing infrastructure we already have.”

Speaking to the Telegraph in September, Greens housing spokesman Max Chandler-Mather blamed Labor for empowering Airbnbs.

“Every Airbnb that is rented out intermittently is another house that could have been rented out to someone long term,” Mr Chandler-Mather said.

“What it comes down to is a housing system that treats housing as a lucrative financial asset.”

In a report the company released earlier this year, Airbnb said only 1 to 2 per cent of properties in Australia were used on their platforms.