Independents put a stake in heart of government’s $10b housing future fund
The Albanese government’s $10 billion housing fund hangs in the balance, with the legislation failing to clinch the support it needs from crossbenchers in the upper house.
Independent Senator David Pocock pictured in the Senate chamber at Parliament House in Canberra. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)
The Greens partyroom is meeting on Monday to decide its position on Labor’s election commitment for a Housing Australia Future Fund to build 30,000 new social and affordable homes.
With the bill listed for debate in the Senate, independent senator Jacqui Lambie said discussions with the government would continue over the coming days.
“We’re concerned about the set up and the way they have done their costs,” she told Seven’s Sunrise program.
“This is also going to come down to once again the Greens, and whether or not they support it.”
The government needs the Greens and two Senate crossbenchers for its legislation to pass the upper house.
Greens leader Adam Bandt said rents needed to be frozen for two years and a million new homes built to address the housing crisis.
“Labor’s housing bill will see the crisis get worse, waiting lists for affordable homes will get longer, and it offers absolutely nothing for renters,” he wrote in a post on Twitter before the party meeting.
“That’s not good enough, we’re going to keep pushing for more.”
ACT independent senator David Pocock has also reaffirmed he won’t support the bill in its current form.
The government says the bill should be supported as it would deliver thousands of new social and affordable homes and had the strong backing of industry groups.
Peak body National Shelter has described it as “the most critical housing legislation to be brought forward for the past 10 years”.
