Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Housing in the Senate, Senator Farrell. Minister, two-thirds of renters are experiencing rental stress. For many renters, one more unlimited increase to their rent will mean that they have to leave their home, and some will be priced out of the private rental market altogether. If there are no limits to the amount that rents can be increased, it won't matter how much public and affordable housing is delivered through the Housing Australia Future Fund. Unless we stop rents skyrocketing, wait lists for public housing will blow out and we won't be able to tackle the housing crisis. On the weekend, the government put money on the table through the National Cabinet in return for changes in planning laws. Minister, do the government accept that they can also do this to coordinate a rent freeze, just as the Greens have proposed?