HOUSING lobby groups have thrown their support behind a multibillion-dollar social and affordable homes fund as Labor tries to push the proposal through parliament.<\/p>\n
The Federal Government reintroduced legislation to set up the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund last week after its first attempt was held up in the Senate.<\/p>\n
The fund was blocked by the Coalition and Greens, with the minor party demanding a nationally agreed rent freeze.<\/p>\n
Master Builders Australia chief executive Denita Wawn said there was no silver bullet to solving the housing crisis, but the fund was “a vital piece in the housing puzzle”.<\/p>\n
“It’s critical we address housing affordability and supply instead of prolonging action and allowing further deterioration in the market,” she said.<\/p>\n
The housing fund would deliver 30,000 social and affordable homes in its first five years, with 4000 for women and children at risk of domestic violence.<\/p>\n
Property Council of Australia chief executive Mike Zorbas warned the Greens’ demand for rent caps would reduce housing supply.<\/p>\n
“The only way we can fix housing supply in this country is to improve broken state planning systems to set legitimate housing targets across the country,” he said.<\/p>\n
“Rent control is a sort of toxic magic pudding.”<\/p>\n
Housing Minister Julie Collins vowed to use every method necessary to break the legislative deadlock.<\/p>\n
“The Housing Australian Future Fund will be the start of an enduring promise from the Australian government that more Australians will have a safe and affordable place to call home,” she said.<\/p>\n
“Our government has not forgotten that promise.”<\/p>\n
The reintroduction of the bill could deliver a double dissolution trigger if the legislation is blocked a second time later this year.<\/p>\n
Such a trigger gives the prime minister an opportunity to go to an early election with all lower and upper house seats up for grabs.<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said there was broad support in the housing industry for the fund.<\/p>\n
Greens housing spokesman Max Chandler-Mather said negotiations were ongoing, but he did not reveal how those talks were progressing.<\/p>\n
“The government have introduced the exact same bill that they rolled up in February which means not a guaranteed cent in public and affordable housing,” he said.<\/p>\n
“Our ideal outcome in October, when the bill comes on for a vote, is to pass a plan that starts to tackle the scale of the housing crisis.<\/p>\n
“That’s what we’re working towards.”<\/p>\n
Opposition housing spokesman Michael Sukkar said there was no assurance the fund would be spent on building homes.<\/p>\n
“If a government is going to fund social and affordable housing, it should do so in a guaranteed way,” he said.<\/p>\n
“This is a very convoluted money go-round that the government has come up with just to ensure that it is treated in a certain way in the budget.”<\/p>\n