The Albanese government’s announcement of initial funding rounds for its housing initiatives left Senator Penny Wong with a firefight in the Senate on Sept. 16 during Question Time.
On the morning of Sept. 16, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese proposed an initial allocation of $32 billion (US$21.5 billion) for the Housing Australia Future Fund and the National Housing Accord to support the construction of over 13,700 new social and affordable homes across the country.
The bill was put up for debate in the Senate later that day.
Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi called the announcements a political stunt.
She argued the proposed bill would only benefit 0.2 percent of renters while potentially driving up housing prices for others.
She said the government should instead join hands with the Greens for real solutions.
“Why won’t you join with the Greens to end negative gearing and capital gains tax discounts stopping renters from buying a home?” she asked.
Senator Wong responded, accusing the Greens of “political opportunism” while siding with the Liberal Party in opposing the bill.
“Instead of standing up for those who are in trouble, those who are doing it tough, you chose to work with [Opposition Leader] Peter Dutton to stop a Labor government from building more houses. What is it about your political opportunism?” Wong remarked.
She also defended the government’s stance, saying, “We have kick-started construction by cutting red tape, bringing forward new housing projects, and investing in infrastructure.”
Wong said the opposition was hindering progress and creating delays.
“We want to do more, but what’s stopping us? The Greens and the Coalition teaming up to block more housing.”
Senator Criticises Green’s Rent Cap
Meanwhile, Liberal Senator Paul Scarr criticised the Greens for proposing a rent cap.He argued that countries across the globe have tried the policy, and it has failed every time.
“It has been proven beyond doubt that rent controls didn’t work in Australia after World War II in Melbourne. They didn’t work in Egypt, the United States, England, or Canada. Nowhere where they’ve been tried have rent controls actually worked. They always make the problem worse,” he told the Senate.
He also quoted a recent study from Argentina that showed rent controls led to a 45 percent increase in overall rents.
Finance Minister Katy Gallagher defended the government, saying that after a decade of neglect, every single budget passed by the Albanese government has included a commitment to the Housing Australia Future Fund.
