Jim Chalmers has demanded an end to the “political games” being played, so that the government’s signature housing policy is able to pass.
The government moved a motion on Wednesday to restrict Senate debate only to the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund with an aim to pass the bill by 1pm on Thursday.
But amid ongoing negotiations, the Greens and independent Senator David Pocock joined with the Coalition and One Nation to block the hours motion 42 to 23. The Housing Australia Future Fund seeks to finance the build of 30,000 new social and affordable homes over five years if passed.Mr Chalmers spruiked the government’s “really comprehensive” package to address the nation’s housing woes during an interview on Sunday.“We need to make sure that we put in place this key part of our policy but in addition to that we’ve got new tax breaks for build-to-rent properties to build more affordable rental properties,” he told ABC.
“We have an increase in commonwealth rent assistance, the biggest for 30 years, we have got changes to NHFIC, we have an agreement to extend the $1.6 billion housing and homelessness agreement with the states.In defending the Coalition’s stance, Shadow treasurer Angus Taylor described the policy as a “Ponzi scheme”, as he called for a proper plan.
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