Greens leader Adam Bandt has doubled down on withholding support from Labor’s $10 billion housing fund, pointing to rent caps being considered at a state level.
It comes as the federal government is seeking advice over whether the Greens’ refusal to pass the fund is a step towards a double dissolution trigger.
Asked if the party was prepared to give the government a double dissolution trigger by voting down the bill later this year, Mr Bandt said the government had already made concessions by providing $2 billion for social housing last weekend.
“We’re not talking about an early election, we’re talking about renters,” Mr Bandt told ABC radio on Wednesday.
“And just like Labor changed their mind on spending for housing, we want Labor to take the rental crisis seriously.
“As part of an agreement with the Greens, the Labor premier in Victoria is now saying they’re looking at rent caps and rent controls, and in the ACT where the Greens are in power with Labor there is a limit on how much rents can rise by.”
The Greens sided with the coalition this week in the Senate to delay the proposed housing future fund law debate until October.
They cited a lack of support for renters and said the delay would allow Labor to negotiate rent reforms with state and territory leaders.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said he was concerned a rent cap would result in most private rentals jacking up prices out of fear fees would be locked in for the next three years.
“I’m not going to bring in a policy that international experience indicates doesn’t work, to solve a Senate logjam,” he said.
“If I thought a rent freeze to be put in place would work, I’d do it, but I don’t think it would.”
Independent senator Jacqui Lambie said every day the legislation was delayed more children would be sleeping in cars with their parents.
“It really floored me with the Greens – they sit there and (say) that they’re the best social people out there,” she told ABC radio.
“You are not helping anyone but yourselves.
“This has got to do with putting a roof over people’s heads. Get on with it.”
Senator Lambie said the housing fund was a “starting point” and she believed if there were “hiccups along the way” they could be resolved.
– AAP
