Housing bill hampered
The $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) bill will not pass through parliament this week as planned.
The Greens and Coalition have teamed up in the Senate to postpone the bill until October, raising concerns about the potential for a double dissolution election.
The impasse has sparked strong reactions, with crossbenchers accusing the Greens of “hurting people” and Labor's Don Farrell labelling the Greens and Coalition as the “axis of evil.”.
The Greens motion to delay the bill until October 16 was passed with 37 votes to 23, allowing more time for national cabinet discussions on reforms to strengthen renters' rights.
A Labor attempt to vote on the bill on Tuesday was defeated.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had offered an additional $2 billion in direct spending on social and affordable housing over the weekend, but the delay in passing the bill is seen as a failure by the government.
A double dissolution election becomes a possibility when a bill fails to pass and is a significant step towards resolving the deadlock.
The Greens party room met on Monday morning, and Senator Sarah Hanson-Young announced the planned delay, emphasising the need to address the housing pressures faced by Australian households.
Housing Minister Julie Collins has highlighted the cost of delay, stating that each day postponed is more than $1.3 million that could have gone towards housing for those in need.
The HAFF bill aims to establish a $10 billion future fund for investing in social and affordable housing, with a minimum annual payout of $500 million.
The Greens have been critical of the fund model, but negotiations with the government have resulted in concessions such as guaranteeing the minimum annual disbursement and an additional $2 billion for direct investment.
While Labor supports the delay, they have so far resisted the Greens' calls to establish a fund of at least $1 billion to incentivize rent freezes.
The country's peak housing bodies have urged the resolution of the deadlock and the passage of the bill. Senators David Pocock and Jacqui Lambie have expressed their support for the bill.
The ongoing delay has raised concerns about the impact on vulnerable individuals and families in need of housing.
Crossbench senator Tammy Tyrrell criticised the Greens for their actions, stating that they are “harming people” by preventing them from securing future housing.
The Greens argue that rent freezes across the country will help address the soaring housing costs. They have called for action from Labor at the national cabinet meeting to facilitate the passage of the bill.
The opposition has backed the Greens' effort to postpone the bill until October, despite their previous decision not to support the HAFF.
The government has reintroduced the legislation without a deal with the Greens, whose support is crucial for its passage.