Renters know they are the losers in Australia’s housing system – and as their anger rises, so will their protest vote

‘Renters’ rights are among the weakest in the developed world and the structure of our private rental market prefers the property rights of landlords over the human rights of tenants to a secure, affordable home.’ Photograph: Jessica Hromas/The Guardian

If you thought the fight over housing policy got ugly in 2023, hold on to your hats.

Parliament isn’t back until next month but the Greens leader, Adam Bandt, has already declared “until Labor backs the Greens’ push to freeze and cap rent rises and stop giving billions of dollars to wealthy property moguls, the housing crisis will just get worse”.