Originally published in Green Magazine, 25^th May 2018 https://greens.org.au/magazine/housing-needs-medicare-treatment

MEDIA RELEASE - 22 March 2018

Senate supports national homelessness action plan

Today the Senate has supported a Greens/ALP motion calling on the government to implement a national homelessness action plan, and supporting the launch of the Everybody’s Home campaign.

Senator Lee Rhiannon, Greens spokesperson for Housing congratulated the 26 organisations who have formed the campaign.

NOTICE OF MOTION

Mr President

We give notice that on the next day of sitting we will move -

That the Senate –

It is time to dismantle the rigged system that privileges investors and landlords over everybody else, said the Leader of the Australian Greens, Senator Richard Di Natale.

“Australia is facing a housing crisis. Everyone needs a home where they can feel secure, live comfortably and be part of the community. But this is becoming increasingly difficult for millions of average Australians.

Labor has damaged their credibility and raised doubts about their response to the housing crisis by running a scare campaign about the impact “foreigners” are having on housing prices, the Greens housing spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon said today.

“It’s disappointing that Labor have continued the xenophobic tactics of the Turnbull government by scapegoating ‘foreigners’ in their housing announcement today,” Senator Rhiannon said.

Greens Treasury spokesperson, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, is today calling on the Government to end its reckless support for negative gearing and capital gains tax discounts that are fuelling a housing crisis.

Senator Whish-Wilson said, “It doesn’t seem to matter which expert comes out against negative gearing or what happens to house prices, the Government remains in denial about its role in the housing crisis.