Housing bill delayed amid stalled negotiations with the Greens
Labor’s signature housing policy is unlikely to be voted on in parliament this week.
Labor has delayed a Senate vote on its signature housing policy as it fails to secure the crucial support of the Greens to set up a fund that will invest in social and affordable housing.
Legislation to establish the $10bn Housing Australia Future Fund was supposed to be debated in the Senate on Tuesday but the government made an 11th hour change to the schedule.
Instead, it began its business in the Senate by bringing on debate for a bill that will enable a referendum on the voice to parliament. The debate on the voice legislation is expected to dominate the Senate this week, with the housing bill likely to be pushed out to at least next week.
The Greens on Tuesday rejected the government’s offer to guarantee a minimum $500m investment to build new social and affordable homes each year as part of Labor’s last-ditch attempt to secure crucial crossbench support in the upper house.
Greens housing spokesman Max Chandler-Mather has demanded more funding for public and affordable housing including a spend of at least $2.5bn and a national rental freeze.
But Anthony Albanese on Tuesday said the federal government had no control over rent freezes and Labor had provided the largest increase in rent assistance in 30 years in its May budget.
The Prime Minister attacked the Greens for voting alongside the Coalition and accused the minor party of being “quite difficult” during negotiations over its housing policy.
“(Rent’s) not in federal capacity. It’s in the control of the state and territory governments, and there are eight of them, and each of them will determine their own policies,” Mr Albanese said.
“We want a renters’ rights accord at the federal level, but that basically requires the state and territory governments to come to an agreement on that.”
Independent Senator David Pocock said Labor had responded to six out of the eight initial joint crossbench demands and called on the Greens to back the bill.
More Coverage
Third senior exit at CFMEU administration
The exit came as confidential documents show the union’s national office was in deficit and the SA branch insolvent.
Flood warnings issued as Cyclone Zelia downgraded
Tropical cyclone Zelia has been downgraded but heavy rainfall continues to lash parts of northwest WA, where severe weather and emergency warnings remain in place.