THE Greens and Coalition have been labelled an “Axis of Evil” after their decision to block the Federal government’s multi-billion dollar housing fund for months.
Debate on the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund has been pushed out until October after a Greens motion to delay talks, which the Opposition backed.
The Greens, which have opposed the fund due to a lack of support for renters, said the delay would allow the prime minister to negotiate rent reforms with State and Territory leaders at an upcoming national cabinet meeting.
The $10b fund would use investment returns to build 30,000 social and affordable homes each year for the next five years.
Trade Minister Don Farrell said the Greens teaming up with the opposition to delay debate on the fund was an “Axis of Evil”.
He warned the decision could lead to the government to consider it a trigger for a possible double-dissolution election.
“If this legislation was to have been in support, rather than be protested by the Greens political party today, we would already be on the way to resolving some of the issues which you pretend that you are interested in solving,” he said.
“If the Senate defers bills to October, the government will regard this as the Senate failing to pass the bill and I’m sure you understand the consequences of that.”
If the Senate twice blocks a bill, with an interval of three months in between, the Constitution allows for a double-dissolution election to be called.
Constitutional experts consider a delay can amount to a bill failing to pass as it represents a form of blocking.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the Greens had made themselves irrelevant in the housing debate.
“Those opposite have prioritised protesting, they have prioritised building up a profile, they have prioritised politics rather than prioritising building public housing,” he told parliament.
“Building a (party) brand doesn’t put a roof over anyone’s head. Families can’t take shelter under a petition.”
But Greens leader Adam Bandt said it was on the government to act on rent reform if it wanted to get the housing fund over the line.
“It is up to Labor to now act on soaring rent rises because unlimited rent increases should be illegal … people can’t take any more,” he said.
“We have bent over backwards – the response from Labor has been everything is impossible until they change their mind and we saw them change their mind over the weekend.”
The government was hopeful of a breakthrough in negotiations on the housing bill after it announced a $2 billion commitment for social housing to be shared among the States and Territories.
Mr Bandt rejected suggestions the delay could be used as part of a double-dissolution trigger.
Housing Minister Julie Collins said every six months the bill was delayed represented another $250 million that could have gone to building more homes.
“This government is being very serious about getting more homes on the ground and getting more Australians into safe, affordable homes,” she told parliament.
“It’s a shame we can’t say the same about some of the other people in this place.”
Greens housing spokesman Max Chandler-Mather said the government’s announcement of additional funds showed action on rent reform was possible.
“We know pressure works and now we’re going to exert that pressure to make sure that the one-third of this country who rents get the same thing that Labor did for energy bills,” he said.
