Tony Zappia (Makin, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The most effective response to the current housing crisis is to build or buy more public housing. Doing so not only provides housing security for more people in need, but, importantly, it moderates free market housing costs and rents for everyone else. That is what the Albanese government's $2 billion Social Housing Accelerator investment will do, and what the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund will do.

But once again, just as they did in 2009 in blocking critical action on climate change, the Greens have teamed up with the coalition to block the construction of 30,000 social and affordable homes. Showing their real colours, the Greens have put their selfish political ambitions ahead of the need of desperate families. Playing political games may be fun in student politics, but it is not fun when real lives are affected. Deferring for three months a decision on the Housing Australia Future Fund at a time of extreme housing stress is both irresponsible and a callous betrayal of those people whom the Greens claim to represent.

Actions speak louder than words. And while the coalition and the Greens unite to pursue their self-serving political strategies, Labor is investing record amounts into housing, proving it is the only party that can be trusted to deal with the housing shortage.