The Victorian Greens warn that the Allan government must guarantee public and affordable housing otherwise their skyrise plan will do nothing to fix the housing crisis and will only make housing more expensive and further lock out young people.
Labor’s high-rise plan doesn’t ensure any public and affordable housing at the sites and today property developers are saying they would force apartment prices up by at least 15 per cent – making housing affordability even worse.
The Victorian Greens say that this is exactly why we need to ensure public and affordable homes in these new activity zones, otherwise this plan is going to drive up prices and make it even harder for young people and essential workers to find somewhere to live.
The Victorian Greens have been calling for inclusionary zoning that would ensure that at least 50% of new housing are public and affordable homes In these new zones.
The Greens are also calling for structural reform of the tax system which currently locked young people and workers out of buying a home – like getting rid of negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount.
Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell:
“Today property developers made it clear that Labor’s plan is to build more expensive luxury apartments. Developers want to build apartments that are at least 15% more expensive than now – that’s the opposite of what we need!”
“We need more genuinely affordable and public homes that young people, nurses, and everyday workers can afford – not expensive luxury apartments.”
Quotes attributable to Greens spokesperson for Public and Affordable Housing, Samantha Ratnam:
“Labor must commit to more public and genuinely affordable homes in these new activity zones otherwise they’re not doing anything for young people struggling through the worst housing crisis in decades.”
“Labor is intent on enabling wealthy developers and corporations to cash in on luxury apartments and it’s only going to make things worse.”
“Labor can’t knock down thousands of public homes and only offer expensive apartments in return.”