Albanese government urged to freeze rent rises for two years to avoid ‘national tragedy’

The Greens are calling for a two-year national rent freeze and caps on future increases to tackle Australia’s housing crisis. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAP

The Greens are urging the Albanese government to impose a nationwide rent freeze for two years, saying the issue of rental affordability should be elevated to national cabinet ahead of next week’s jobs and skills summit.

New research from the Everybody’s Home advocacy group has found increased rents in regional areas are contributing to unfilled job vacancies, with some areas recording rental rises of more than 40% in the past two years.