The Greens have issued a dissenting report to the Senate inquiry report into the Government's housing package, as have the Coalition and Senators Pocock and Thorpe.

The Greens dissenting report described the legislation in its current form as not fit for purpose, saying that “given that this package will see the shortage of social and affordable housing get worse, and do nothing for renters, the Housing Australia Future Fund bills must be amended to address [our] concerns outlined”.

The Greens report noted that “the current plan, to gamble $10 billion on investments via the Future Fund, could result in years where not a single cent is spent on housing. In fact, last year the HAFF would have lost $120 million. We would never accept leaving school and hospital funding up to a gamble on the stock market, so why should we do that with housing?”

Lines attributable to Max Chandler-Mather MP, Greens spokesperson for housing and homelessness: 

With almost the entire Senate crossbench, and everyone from the CFMEU to Anglicare and Master Builders, all calling on the Government to invest more in social and affordable housing, it’s time the Government came to the table and stopped standing in the way of progress. 

It’s clear the government has no support for a housing plan that will make the crisis worse - it’s time for the government to accept that they’ve failed and agree to the almost universal call to invest billions of extra dollars in social housing. 

It’s beyond comprehension that the Government would refuse to work with the Greens and the crossbench to secure a housing plan that could invest $5 billion a year directly in social and affordable housing and lay the foundation to finally tackle the housing crisis. 

The Greens have on the table a proposal to invest a modest $5 billion a year in public, community and affordable housing, which would build 225,000 homes, along with introducing a national freeze on rent increases. 

The bottom line is if the Government can find $368 billion for nuclear attack submarines then it would be morally repugnant to reject $5 billion a year for public and affordable housing in the middle of a housing and homelessness crisis.