Housing Minister Julie Collins has today announced that outgoing Mirvac boss Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz will head up the interim National Housing Supply and Affordability Council. The Government released their draft housing legislation yesterday, with the consultation period open until 11 January.

Lines attributable to Max-Chandler Mather MP, Greens spokesperson for Housing and Homelessness:

“Today’s announcement makes a mockery of Labor’s stated desire to tackle the housing crisis. 

“Labor only released an exposure draft of the bill to establish the Affordability Council this week, and won’t introduce it to parliament until next year. It’s completely unacceptable that the government would seek to subvert the standard democratic process and hand over the Chair position to a property developer. 

“When Labor finally introduces the bill to establish the National Housing Supply and Affordability Council next year, the Greens will move amendments to ban property developers from serving on the Council. 

“Property developers already wield far too much power and influence over government, and are major beneficiaries of Australia’s current broken housing system. 

“It’s bad enough that Labor and the Liberals continue to take political donations from property developers, now Labor is literally appointing a property developer to head Affordability Council

“Property developers are part of the problem, and have fuelled the housing crisis in this country. We urgently need the government to set their interests aside and focus on building public and community housing, scrapping negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions, and strengthening renters rights.”