15th Feb 2023, 5:28 PM – Representatives Housing Australia Future Fund Bill 2023 - Second Reading - Housing crisis

The majority voted in favour of disagreeing with a second reading amendment introduced by Griffith MP Max Chandler-Mather (Greens), which means it failed. This amendment would have changed the usual second reading motion, which is "That this bill be now read a second time. To read a bill for a second time is to agree with its main idea.

Amendment text

That all words after "That" be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:

"whilst not declining to give the bill a second reading, the House notes that:

(1) Australia currently has a shortage of 640,000 social and affordable homes, and that shortage is projected to increase by 75,000 homes over the next five years, which means the Government's plan to build 30,000 homes over five years will actually see the situation get worse;

(2) this bill does nothing to help the millions of renters struggling with skyrocketing rents and record low vacancy rates;

(3) this bill locks in a $500 million per year spending cap on housing, which will see a real term cut in spending every year; and

(4) if the Government truly wanted to solve the housing crisis, they could:

(a) help renters by doubling Commonwealth Rent Assistance and putting a plan to freeze rent increases on the National Cabinet agenda;

(b) phase out negative gearing and capital gains tax discounts; and

(c) invest directly in building one million well-designed public homes, enough to not just clear the wait lists, but also to provide affordable housing to the teachers, nurses, aged care workers, cleaners and others locked out of the housing market".