Greens and Labour stuck in housing crisis

The political divide on the housing issue remains, with the Greens calling on the new minister to reconsider the government’s policies, which include a rent freeze and increased funding for public housing.

Green Party housing spokesman Max Chandler-Mather said he was “deeply disappointed” by the new housing minister’s response to his call to return to the negotiating table to resolve the housing crisis.

“It shows again that the Labour Party has not changed its failed housing policy. They have simply decided to hire a new salesman,” he said. Sky News on Sunday.

In a ministerial reshuffle last month, Clare O’Neil left the Home Affairs portfolio to take on the role of Director of Housing and Homelessness.

Following her appointment, Chandler-Mather sent an open letter calling on her to reverse “the government’s decision to refuse to negotiate with the Greens on housing” amid “one of the worst housing and rent crises in our country’s history.”

Both the Greens and the Coalition continue to oppose key parts of the government’s housing legislation, including the shared equity Help to Buy scheme and tax changes to encourage build-to-rent projects.

Both parties are pushing for alternative solutions – the Greens are in favour of rent controls and more social housing, while the opposition wants to encourage home ownership by allowing buyers to access their retirement savings.

Employment Minister Murray Watt said the Greens were constantly looking for an excuse to prevent the Labour Party from building housing.

“Green voters are getting fed up with the Greens standing in the way of Labour’s efforts to make a real difference,” he told Sky News on Sunday.

“What we need now is more housing and not more political sensationalism.”

Chandler-Mather said the government was more interested in providing tax breaks to real estate developers and investors than in putting money directly into building public and affordable housing.

“The new minister (Clare O’Neil) claims that she cares about those who are struggling,” he said.

“Well then, back your actions up with actions – show that you care and actually do something practical for the millions of people who are being devastated by the housing crisis,” he said on Sunday.

Chandler Mather in conversation with Neos Cosmos Last year, immigrants were told to “invest in shares if they want to”, rather than property, when asked whether they would use their property to succeed in Australia or secure a comfortable retirement.

Once again, the Greens have sided with the LNP to block Labor’s housing policy.

Chandler Mather called on the minister to consider the Greens’ plan to appoint a state developer to create affordable housing, abolish negative gearing and capital gains tax relief, coordinate a two-year rent freeze and caps on rent increases, and double funding for social housing.