The federal government’s key housing policy is set to pass parliament after a deal brokered with the Greens.
Under the proposal, the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) includes 30,000 new and affordable social homes to be built in its first five years.
The government needed the support of the Greens to pass the legislation, which had been stalled after the party made a list of demands to be included in the HAFF.
The Greens have now agreed to back the fund, saying they have secured an extra $1 billion for public and community housing from the government.
Greens leader Adam Bandt, who had previously vowed to “sink” the housing bill, said the pressure the party had put on the government secured the extra funding, which will be allotted to relieve Australia’s housing crisis, “not fix it”.
Mr Bandt said the bill would likely pass the Senate this week and he thanked the government “for finding the additional money”.
“Renters are powerful and the Greens are the party of renters,” Mr Bandt said.
“We have won more money for housing for renters, and rent control is next.”
The Greens’ housing spokesperson, Max Chandler-Mather, said he would still pressure the government to secure a freeze to rent increases, one of the party’s original demands when it had blocked the bill.
“We will not stop fighting, we will not rest until there is a cap and freeze on rent increases,” Mr Chandler-Mather said.
“Labor needs to realise if they keep ignoring renters, they will learn a harsh lesson at the next election.
“Labor had the opportunity to freeze and cap rent increases through national cabinet and they refused, so from now on every rent increase is Labor’s fault, and come next election Labor should be prepared to hear from renters loud and clear they are fed up with being treated as second-class citizens.”
When the housing bill had originally failed to pass, it prompted talks of a double-dissolution election.
When asked how he felt about the Greens’ change of heart during Question Time today, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he was “very pleased” the fund now had a majority support in the Senate.
“Today we have committed an additional $1 billion in funding for the National Housing Infrastructure facility to build more homes for Australians who need them,” he said.
“I thank the crossbenchers in this chamber and in the other chamber for joining with the Labor government to make sure this is done.”
