Independent Federal Member for Indi Helen Haines has criticised the Labor government and the Coalition, after the major parties voted down her amendments to the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) Bill moved by Senator David Pocock in the Senate on Dr Haines’ behalf last on Wednesday.
“The housing crisis is the biggest issue facing regional Australia yet it is a complete blind spot for this government,” Dr Haines said.
“Almost one in three Australians live outside the big cities, yet I constantly have to remind this government about how the housing crisis is impacting people in regional, rural and remote communities.”
Dr Haines said that the proposed amendments would have ensured the housing needs of people in regional Australia are clearly considered and required reviews of the fund’s spending are in place to consider the extent to which the new laws meet those needs.
“Regional communities will continue to be overlooked unless laws recognise our specific needs and agencies are required to be transparent about how money is distributed to meet those needs,” she explained.
“Without these amendments there is no guarantee that the billions of dollars announced for housing will flow to regional Australia, and the communities where it is needed most.”
Dr Haines had been working closely with Housing Minister Julie Collins and met with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to speak about the need for the government’s signature housing policy to expressly include regional, rural and remote Australia.
“I went to the government in good faith, I worked constructively with them but it’s clear they have no idea that addressing the housing crisis in regional Australia is different to addressing housing issues in the major cities,” she said.
“I am shocked National and Liberal Senators from the regions did not back in this amendment.
“They need to explain why they voted against the interests of their constituents.”
This article appeared in the Corryong Courier, 21 September 2023.
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