Anthony Albanese’s new housing plan after Greens blocked $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund
Frustrated with Greens blocking his election promise on housing, Anthony Albanese announces $2 billion effort to ‘accelerate’ new construction
- Albanian Prime Minister announces funding increase for social housing
- Dedication is in partnership with states and territories
- The government is frustrated by the Greens blocking its housing fund plan
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has raised the bar on housing spending, proposing a new $2 billion fund as the Greens block a key election pledge.
State and territory governments will receive a $2 billion boost to social housing within the next two weeks.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will announce the Social Housing Accelerator at the Victorian Labor conference on Saturday.
The move comes as the Greens continue to block bills in the Senate to enable the government’s $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund, calling for more ambitious spending and rent controls.
“Yesterday when I met prime ministers and prime ministers on this, they all pledged to ensure that investment in housing goes hand in hand with better planning laws, zoning reform and freeing up more land for new construction,” Mr. Albanese will tell the conference.
“That’s what this is about: real dollars, driving real change and building more homes.
“And our government is not going to sit around while members of the Greens advocate for more housing in the media while opposing it in their constituents and voting against it in parliament.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will announce the Social Housing Accelerator plan at the Victorian Labor conference on Saturday
The demand for social housing has increased almost three times as fast as population growth.
“The Greens have blocked more houses than they have ever built,” Mr Albanese will say.
“But we are a government party – and we know that Australians deserve the respect of practical action.”
Summoning Labor supporters, Mr Albanese will describe federal Liberals – who also oppose the Housing Fund – as ‘actually a doomsday cult’.
“For them, every day is the end of days. These are the people who said easing energy bills for households and businesses was “Venezuelan communism.”
The move comes as Greens continue to block bills in the Senate to enable the government’s $10bn Housing Australia Future Fund, calling for more ambitious spending and rent controls
The Greens say a rent freeze is needed to tackle rising housing costs.
But state leaders have ruled out any action, arguing that it would reduce the flow of supply and investment.
However, the states and territories committed to working with Mr. Albanese to improve tenant rights, achieve a national housing agreement for 20,000 homes, and implement a new national housing and homelessness plan.
The Prime Minister also raised the issue of housing supply and affordability with local government leaders in Canberra on Friday.