Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Ciccone for his question and the wonderful work he does in the housing space for the great state of Victoria. I commend the senator for his interest in this area and his advocacy in his home state.

As the senator knows, too many Australians are struggling with high rent. Australians are doing it tough, and a lack of affordable housing is a very big part of that story. That's why the Albanese Labor government is helping nearly one million households around Australia with the cost of rent, by delivering yet another increase in the rate of Commonwealth rent assistance. This is the second year in a row that we have increased rent assistance, making it the first back-to-back increase in more than 30 years. For the thousands of renters in your home state of Victoria, Senator Ciccone, that means less of a pinch when the rent is due.

But, right now, these Green senators up here are standing with the Liberals and the Nationals, opposing Labor's build-to-rent bill, which will build more affordable rental homes and make life easier for renters. The Liberals, the Nationals and the Greens have had a chance to improve the lives of renters, and yet they refuse. The Albanese Labor government is committed to delivering more affordable rentals right around the country. So I ask the Liberals, the Nationals and the Greens to work with us to do that right here and now.