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“We want these bills to pass Parliament because there is a housing crisis that is affecting the lives of millions of people.”
It’s Housing Minister Clare O’Neil.
She was keen to get Labor’s housing program back on track in the last sitting week of the year – perhaps the last sitting week before the next federal election.
With many Australians struggling to find somewhere to rent or buy, Ms O’Neil says more could be done.
“Our Legislature can do more about this, and we want to see that happen this week with the passage of these two bills.”
Two housing bills will be up for a vote in the Senate this week.
The first is help to buy legislation, which would see the government lend up to 40 per cent of the cost of a home to eligible buyers to get their foot in the door of the property market.
The second is the Build to Rent bill, which would create a tax break to incentivize developers to build affordable rental housing.
Ms O’Neil says this would help solve the supply problem in the property market.
“If we succeed, it will lead to the construction of tens of thousands of new rental homes that Australians desperately need.”
But Labor has yet to get the bill through the Senate.
The coalition will not support either bill and the Greens want changes to be made for their support.
The small party initially presented a long list of demands, including a national rent freeze, and the removal of negative gearing and capital gains tax relief.
Green leader Adam Bandt says they have now watered down their demands.
The party is now seeking to fund around 25,000 more social and affordable homes and increase the proportion of homes in the Build to Rent program that are affordable homes.
“We presented proposals in good faith to the government. Our proposals were based on the government’s own model. That’s not how we would have done it.”
But Ms. O’Neil says she won’t budge.
“The time for negotiations on this subject is over. It has been six months since these bills were first delayed by the Australian Greens.”
This came under fire from Mr Bandt.
“This is a Labor government that is not prepared to do anything to solve the housing and rent crisis, and is instead interested in picking a fight with the Greens in the last week of the Parliament.”
The housing bills are among 30 bills currently stalled in the Senate.
Anything not approved by Parliament this week may not be revisited before Australians go to the polls in the federal election, due to take place in May next year.
The government’s aged care reform package has been passed – and it is expected that changes to the new rules on political donations will also be passed soon.
The government is now seeking a victory over its social media ban for teenagers.
Although the coalition said it would support the bill, some backbenchers raised concerns about its privacy implications.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has urged Parliament to do so.
“Let’s seize it. Let’s give children their childhood back. Let’s give parents new peace of mind. Let’s work together. Let’s pass this legislation through the House and Senate this week, and it will be something we can be very proud of. of. Here here.
