Adam Bandt (Melbourne, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. This morning on Radio National, when asked about limiting rent increases, the Treasurer said, 'We're prepared to show leadership at national cabinet on renter rights and other aspects.' We know you oppose a rent freeze, but even limits on rent rises would make a massive difference to millions of renters in crisis. With the ACT Greens-Labor government limiting rent rises and the Victorian government now looking at rent caps after a deal with the Greens, will you show leadership at national cabinet to help make unlimited rent rises illegal?

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Melbourne for his question. I note that the member for Melbourne and the Greens political party say that this is a stumbling block for them voting for the Housing Australia Future Fund, which would deliver 30,000 additional public and affordable housing units, including 4,000 that are reserved for women and children escaping domestic violence, including funding that would deliver assistance for veterans at risk of homelessness and including Indigenous housing. They say that that's the case, but the truth is that every single state and territory leader has said that they do not support a rent freeze—every single one. In the ACT, the only jurisdiction in which there is the measure that the member referred to, it is for inflation plus 10 per cent. That is over just a one-year period.

The fact is that we are organising with the states and territories work on renters' rights and will continue to do so constructively. But I say to the member for Melbourne that there is legislation before this parliament, now—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Griffith will cease interjecting.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

before the Senate, that can be passed with the Greens' support today and then can return to this House. It is legislation that would guarantee that at least $500 million a year, additional to everything else that we are doing, would go into social housing. That would, because the key is supply, put downward pressure on prices.

I say to the member for Melbourne: if the member for Melbourne has been a part of deferring this legislation not once but twice until October and therefore ensuring that the legislation effectively—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister will pause. The Leader of the Australian Greens on a point of order?

Adam Bandt (Melbourne, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, on relevance. We're two and a bit minutes in, and the Prime Minister has not addressed the central question about whether at national cabinet he will support and advance limits on rent increases. That has not been addressed.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister, under the standing orders, needs to be directly relevant, which he is being, so he is in order.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'll tell you what would have a devastating impact on renters. That would be, in June, to say, because the Greens political party have blocked this legislation even from being debated until October—if you said to every property owner out there, 'You've got till October till a rent freeze comes on,' what do you think would happen? Do you think they'd put up their rents or do you think they'd decrease them? That is why your propositions are so ill thought out and opportunistic. Get on with the program; vote for social housing. Do it today. (Time expired)