The Greens are appealing to renters with their rejection of the federal government’s housing package.Credit:Peter Rae
But the $10 billion fund,a key election promise which is supposed to build 20,000 social housing properties and 10,000 affordable homes for essential workers over five years,could be a bridge too far.
The Greens want much,much more than this:$5 billion for social and affordable housing and a national agreement to cap rent increases for two years to help the up to 700,000 people in need of a social and affordable home.
Without some significant and expensive concessions from Labor,the policy – which the government wanted passed this week butpulled from debate – won’t get through the Senate.
As the Australian National University’s 2022 election study revealed,22 per cent of renters voted Green at the last poll,compared to 37 per cent who voted for Labor,26 per cent for the Coalition and 16 per cent for others.
In other words,renters are a core constituency for the party. They played a key role in getting new inner-city Brisbane MPs Max Chandler-Mather and Stephen Bates elected,and they’re also a large proportion of voters in leader Adam Bandt’s inner-city seat of Melbourne.
Two weekends ago,the Greens went door knocking in seven marginal seats around the country to talk about housing policy,and to make the point that if Labor can promise up to $368 billion for submarines,surely it could find $5 billion for renters. They have more such exercises planned.