2022-05-01
Media release
With a minority Parliament a likely outcome and the Greens set for balance of power in the Senate in their own right, Greens Leader Adam Bandt has announced he will publicly release a list of key balance of power demands prior to polling day, one of which will be tackling the housing affordability crisis.
A Greens analysis has revealed the party’s policy to build one million homes will save people thousands of dollars every year, and eliminate the social housing waiting list within five years. With a week to go before people begin to cast their vote, people are disappointed that the major parties have failed to tackle the real issues, like the climate crisis and the housing affordability crisis, both of which the Greens are seeking to elevate in the election campaign.
The biggest cost of living issue is housing, with rents rising three times faster than wages, younger people unable to afford a home of their own, and older women increasingly becoming homeless.
The analysis reveals that without the Greens support, Labor’s policy will see the social housing waiting list grow.
The Greens’ will tackle the issue by building a million new environmentally sustainable homes, including:
- Low-income housing: 750,000 homes to be made available with rent capped at 25% of people’s income,
- Rentals: 125,000 homes for those locked out of the housing market, including essential workers, and
- First Home Buyers: 125,000 homes available to buy for $300,000.
The plan has been costed at $2.3 billion dollars a year, and would be paid for by making big corporations and billionaires pay their fair share of tax.
According to an analysis published by the Greens, the policy will result in savings of:
- Low-income housing: Rental savings between $8,300 and $25,800 per year,
- Rentals: Rental savings between $1,500 and $12,000 per year
- First Home Buyers: mortgage savings of between $6,000 and $11,500 per year
According to the Greens analysis, this policy will also eliminate the social housing list by 2027, compared to Labor’s policy, which will see the social housing waiting list increase.
The Greens’ vote is rising in recent polls, with Ipsos putting the party’s vote at 12% and the Resolve state-by-state breakdown seeing the Greens vote climb to 14% in Queensland, where the party has its sights on the lower house seats of Griffith, Ryan and Brisbane as well as a second Senate seat.
Quotes attributable to Mr Bandt
“Liberal and Labor aren’t talking about the issues that really matter to people this election, like housing affordability and the climate crisis.
“The planet is burning and the housing market is cooked, but Liberal and Labor are throwing cash at electorates they want to win rather than tackling the big challenges we face.
“Between a terrible government and a visionless opposition, people are switching to the Greens to kick Scott Morrison out.
“In balance of power, the Greens will kick the Liberals out and make the next government confront the big issues like the housing affordability crisis and the climate crisis.
“Currently, over 450,000 women could end up homeless, young people are giving up on owning a home of their own and many are even locked out of renting.
“Under our plan, people locked out of the market will be able to buy into a home for around $300,000 or rent it at 25% of their income.
“Labor and Liberal want to give billionaires like Clive Palmer a $9,000 a year tax cut, but the Greens will tax the billionaires and big corporations to help build affordable housing.
“In a wealthy country like ours, everyone should have an affordable home to call their own,” said Mr Bandt.
Learn more:
Greens Plan: One million Homes