Labor to wedge Greens on housing fund

The Albanese government is moving to wedge the Greens over its signature housing policy by bringing the bill into the upper house despite not having struck a deal with the minor party.

Housing Minister Julie Collins says the Greens would not be able to publicly say that they support social and affordable housing if they oppose the fund in the upper house this week. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

The Albanese government is moving to wedge the Greens over its signature housing policy by bringing the bill into the upper house despite not having struck a deal with the minor party.

Labor will seek to pass its $10bn Housing Australia Future Fund during this sitting week in a bid to force the Greens to come to a position or vote it down.

Negotiations over the government’s housing fund have been stalled for weeks, with the Greens concerned its promise to build 30,000 social and affordable houses will not be enough to keep up with rising demand.

Labor is seeking support from the Greens after it secured crucial votes from the Jacqui Lambie Network, while ACT independent Senator David Pocock confirmed he would not block its passage through parliament.

Housing Minister Julie Collins said the Greens would not be able to publicly say that they support social and affordable housing if they oppose the fund in the upper house this week.

“Senators can’t say they support more social and affordable housing but oppose this fund,” she said. “It’s time for all senators to back the $10bn Housing Australia Future Fund – the single biggest investment from a federal government in social and affordable housing in more than a decade.”

Greens Leader Adam Bandt on Monday said the party would not support the bill in its current form, and argued it did not guarantee any funding would be spent on public housing.

The party may seek to filibuster on the bill in the Senate in order to delay a vote until the next sitting period in mid-June.

“At the moment in (the bill’s) current form – which doesn’t have our support – there is not a guaranteed dollar amount that will be spent on housing,” Mr Bandt said.

“If the fund loses money, like it did last year, then there is no money spent on public housing.

“Even if the fund comes into effect, you won’t see a single house built before the next federal election and at the end of the fund, the waiting list is going to be longer than it is now.”

State and territory housing ministers last week wrote to all senators urging them to support the fund, which remains stalled in the upper house.

National housing advocacy body Everybody’s Home urged Labor on Monday to continue its negotiations with the Greens until it had secured the numbers to go to a vote.

“We are distressed by reports that the fund will go up for a vote in the Senate before it has enough support to get over the line,” Everybody’s Home spokes­woman Maiy Azize said.