Greens Senator Nick McKim claims 1200 homes deal for Tasmania is ‘a dud’

The Greens and the Jacqui Lambie Network have traded words over whether Tasmania is about to get a housing boost or not. YOU DECIDE>>

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA – MAY 8: Australian Greens Senator Nick McKim holds a media conference at Parliament House Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The Greens have accused the federal government of dudding Senator Tammy Tyrrell in a deal supposed to deliver 1200 new homes to Tasmania.

Senator Tyrrell and Senator Jacqui Lambie have agreed to back Labor’s legislation creating the Housing Australia Future Fund in exchange for a doubling of the number of houses Tasmania will receive over the next five years.

The legislation was being debated in federal parliament on Wednesday night.

Senator Nick McKim said it contained no guarantee the promise of extra housing would be delivered.

The Greens are withholding their support for the bill, seeking a national cap on rent rises, among other measures.

The deal negotiated by the government with Senator Tyrrell is included in the budget handed down on Tuesday night.

It commits to “amending the National Housing and Finance Investment Corporation’s Investment Mandate to require NHFIC to take reasonable steps to allocate a minimum of 1,200 homes to be delivered in each state and territory within five years of the Housing Australia Future Fund commencing operation.”

Mr McKim said it wasn’t what people were led to believe had been negotiated.

“It’s looking very much like Julie Collins has dudded Jacquie Lambie and Tammy Tyrrell,” he said.

“There is no guarantee in the legislation or the budget that a single house will be built in Tasmania by this fund, let alone 1200. Reasonable steps are not a guarantee.”

Senator Tammy Tyrrell. New Supported Affordable Accommodation Project launch at Clarendon Vale. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Senator Tyrrell said Mr McKim was wrong.

“Not sure what the Greens have been looking at, but the 1200 homes I’ve secured for Tasmania over the next five years will be in legislation,” she said.

“In fact, it was written in the budget papers. Trust the Greens to think that the budget papers are lying to them.

“Senators Nick McKim and Peter Whish-Wilson need to back me in — do they want Tasmania to have 1200 homes, or nothing?”

Minister for Housing Julie Collins said her party had worked constructively with other parties and made a series of amendments to address concerns they expressed.

“Australia desperately needs the 30,000 new social and affordable rental homes the Fund will deliver in its first five years,” she said.

“This bill can’t be delayed any longer. Senators who say they support more social and affordable homes need to stop the delays and pass the bill this week.

“The Fund is backed by numerous stakeholders, including housing experts, community housing providers, Housing Ministers from across the country, and numerous crossbenchers across the Parliament.”