Anthony Albanese steps up threat to make good on securing double dissolution trigger over housing

The Prime Minister has fired the starter’s gun on a fresh brawl over the housing crisis facing everyday Australians.

Anthony Albanese will step up his threat to set an early election trigger should his signature housing policy be knocked back a third time.

The Prime Minister will use a visit to a BlueCHP social housing complex in the Greens-held electorate of Brisbane on Friday to announce his plan to reintroduce the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) when parliament meets next week.

“We will use every process available for this important legislation,” Mr Albanese said in a statement on Thursday.

“We’re not giving up on Australians who need and deserve the security of a roof over their head.

Mr Albanese will reignite the housing fight by setting up a double dissolution threat. Picture: Glen Campbell/NCA NewsWire

“Each and every time the Coalition and the Greens block this fund, they are delaying new homes for Australians who need them.”

A bitter stalemate between the government and the Greens has twice stalled the $10bn housing fund in the Senate.

Mr Albanese has previously said advice from the solicitor-general, not released publicly, backed the view the Bill’s delay constituted a failure to pass the legislation.

Should the HAFF fail a third time within three months after it was first delayed, the government will have the option to call a double dissolution election.

It means every senator would be up for re-election. The last double dissolution election occurred when Malcolm Turnbull was prime minister in 2016.

Labor went to the election promising to establish the fund and use the earnings to build 30,000 social and affordable homes over five years.

The Coalition rejected the off-budget fund from the outset.

Mr Albanese and Mr Chandler-Mather have repeatedly traded barbs over the legislation. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Both Labor and the Greens have made concessions on the Bill since it was first introduced. Last month, the government announced it would immediately inject $2bn in to social housing.

Meanwhile, the minor party halved its initial demand the government spend closer to $5bn each year to address the social housing shortfall to $2.5bn.

But housing spokesman Max Chandler-Mather is standing firm on his demand the government co-ordinate a nationwide freeze on rents, or caps, with the states.

Rent controls are under consideration in Victoria but other states, including NSW, ruled out the suggestion.

Mr Albanese has previously indicated he would be happy to take the policy to the next election should the Greens not come to the table.

The fight over the housing crisis is expected to take centre stage at the ALP national conference next month after the CFMEU threw its weight behind a super profits tax to be used to plug the shortfall in social and affordable homes.

Construction union boss Zach Smith this week flagged plans to move a motion at the conference in Brisbane in a bid to force the party to adopt the policy.

The HAFF is not expected to be put to a vote in the House of Representatives until October.