2026-02-11
The Victorian Greens say that thanks to their amendment that passed last week, Labor now has both the power and the responsibility to force developers to contribute their fair share of public, community and genuinely affordable housing in new activity centres.
The Greens say that with draft maps released today, the real question for renters, young people, and millennials bearing the brunt of the housing crisis is - are we even going to be able to afford them?
The Greens support well-planned density near public transport, but we need to do it properly. That means homes that are genuinely affordable to rent and buy, family-sized apartments, strong environmental and design standards, green space, and the proper services and infrastructure to support growing communities.
Labor accepts political donations from the property industry and in return has given special treatment to property developers, handing them public land, and all the power over what gets built, where it goes and who it’s for.
Last week, the Greens secured a historic amendment to planning laws creating a “head of power” - a new legal mechanism that allows state and local governments to mandate public, community and affordable housing in new developments.
For the first time, there is no excuse for failing to require developers to contribute their fair share.
The Greens are calling on the Allan Government to commit to a mandatory minimum of 50% public, community and genuinely affordable housing requirements across all activity centres before final plans are locked in later this year.
Quotes attributable to the Victorian Greens housing spokesperson, Gabrielle de Vietri:
“It’s all well and good for Labor to release draft plans today, but the real question renters, young people and everyone being smashed by the cost of housing will be asking is: will we actually be able to afford these homes?
“Developers aren’t thinking about affordability, they’re thinking about profit. The changes we secured to planning laws mean that Labor now not only has the power but the responsibility to force developers to contribute their fair share of public, community and genuinely affordable housing. They have the power now - there’s no excuse not to use it.
“Greater density near public transport and services should be an opportunity to build better communities, with genuinely affordable homes, good design and green space. But Labor is kidding themselves if they think developers will prioritise those things unless they’re forced to.”