Thursday, 29 August 2024

 Gabrielle DE VIETRI (Richmond) (09:53): In the middle of a housing crisis the Greens have put renters rights and housing affordability on the political agenda. Every day in this place we bring in the struggle of everyday people scraping the bottom of the barrel to pay the rent, to service a mortgage or, if they are lucky, to save for a deposit. We know that people are doing it tough, and we know that governments have the power to stop people from being forced out of their homes to live in tents or cars or sleep on friends’ couches. While Labor is turning their back on renters, demolishing public housing and giving massive tax breaks and handouts to developers, with the Greens in the shared balance of power, we are delivering for renters and everyone struggling to find a place to live.

Earlier this year we secured a tax on empty homes, pushing investors to rent them out or sell up. Now we have secured crucial reforms to how Airbnb and other platforms work to free up more homes for renters and first home buyers to actually live in, because it is just not right that in the middle of a housing crisis there are 48,000 entire homes on Airbnb. So along with an Airbnb property tax, we have secured new powers for councils and owners corps to turn short-stay accommodation back into homes. These Greens wins will help more Victorians find a home, but we will not stop until everyone has a secure and affordable place to live. Next up, rent freeze.