The Victorian Greens have said today’s State Budget will make the housing crisis worse by investing zero dollars in new homes and providing nothing for renters.
The Greens say Labor’s decision to spend no new money on building homes, including public housing, and to ignore renters will mean more rent increases and more unaffordable homes for first-home buyers.
With up to 30,000 Victorians experiencing homelessness every night, more than 120,000 Victorians on the waitlist for public housing, and rents at record highs, this Budget was an opportunity to take the action needed to address the housing crisis.
By taxing the big banks and profiteering corporations, the State Labor Government could have raised $14.7 billion dollars in the next four years which could then have been invested in things like public housing and urgent cost-of-living relief.
Instead, Labor has today delivered a do-nothing Budget that:
- Invests zero dollars in building any new housing, including public housing.
- Continues to allow unlimited rent increases.
- Does nothing to stop supermarket price-gouging.
- Axes the Sick Pay Guarantee as part of $1.7 billion in cuts.
- Delays mental health and kinder reforms.
The Greens say even Labor’s one dangling carrot this year – a one-off $400 dollar voucher for school uniforms and camps – is nothing more than an admission of chronic public school underfunding, while families and young people continue to struggle with the rising costs of rent, mortgages, groceries and healthcare.
Victorian Greens treasury spokesperson, Sam Hibbins, said Labor made the wrong choice in today’s Budget.
They could have stepped in to help people struggling with the housing and cost-of-living crises, and instead chose inaction and unnecessary cuts that will make life harder for everyday Victorians.
As stated by Victorian Greens treasury spokesperson, Sam Hibbins MP:
“This is a budget that has no new money for homes and nothing for renters. Labor’s Budget will make life harder for everyday Victorians.
“Labor delivered a do-nothing budget. If you’re struggling to pay the rent and afford groceries, rents and prices will continue to be pushed higher.
“The only winners from this Budget are profiteering corporations who Labor have let off the hook.”
As stated by Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell MP:
“In the middle of a housing crisis, Labor’s first Budget under the new Premier has no new money for housing, and nothing to help with soaring rents.
“A one-off voucher for school uniforms and camps doesn’t fix the fact that kids are still learning in chronically underfunded schools with crumbling classrooms, and families and young people struggle to pay the rent or afford rising grocery costs.
“Labor’s Budget includes nothing new for housing and nothing to curb soaring rent costs, which is the biggest crisis that families and young people are facing right now.”
