Labor under pressure to freeze rents as Greens and Coalition back inquiry into housing crisis

Advocates warn that housing is too important to fall victim to game-playing as the Greens hold out for caps on rising rents. Photograph: Jessica Hromas/The Guardian

The Senate has set up an inquiry into the rental crisis, a process designed by the Greens to pressure the Albanese government to agree to freeze or cap rising rents.

On Monday the Greens voted with the Coalition to delay consideration of Labor’s $10bn Housing Australia Future Fund (Haff) until 16 October, despite pressure from housing groups to pass the bill after the government pledged $2bn of direct funding for social and affordable housing.