Green Party housing spokesman Max Chandler-Mather has threatened to hold Anthony Albanese’s government hostage over its negative gearing policy and rent freeze, following a cabinet reshuffle.
The Prime Minister announced on Sunday that Victorian MP Clare O’Neil would be moved from the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cyber Security to the Ministry of Housing and Homelessness.
Mr Albanese defended Ms O’Neil during a news conference, insisting she was only moved because of a reshuffle, not because of her damaged reputation following her handling of the High Court’s decision to release foreign criminals into the community.
The Prime Minister said Ms O’Neil “is a great communicator” who “will ensure that the issue of housing is addressed”.
Labor touted a $32 billion plan to build 1.2 million homes by 2029 in May’s Federal Budget, but has been widely accused of failing to address the immediate systemic problems preventing people from entering the housing market.
The cabinet reshuffle was announced at 2pm on Sunday. By 2.24pm, Chandler-Mather, who has always been a thorn in the Prime Minister’s side, had sent five angry messages to X challenging O’Neil to negotiate with the Greens on housing policy.
He threatened to stop the passage of Labor’s housing bills unless Ms O’Neil enters into talks to freeze and eventually cap rent increases, phase out negative gearing and invest properly in public housing.
Greens MP Max Chandler-Mather (pictured) has challenged the Labour Party over its housing policies
Victorian MP Clare O’Neil (pictured) was home secretary but has now been moved to the housing portfolio.
Mr Chandler-Mather wrote: “If Labour wants its housing bills to pass, I call on the new Housing Minister, Clare O’Neil, to immediately reopen negotiations with the Greens on rent freezes/caps, along with phasing out tax breaks for investors and real investment in public housing.”
He then attacked the prime minister, accusing him of focusing on “appearance” by changing the housing minister while leaving housing policies unchanged.
“A new vendor selling the same unlimited rent increases, the same sky-high housing prices, chronic underfunding of public housing and tax breaks for investors will fail,” he said.
It is typical of a political class focused on “appearance” that the Prime Minister thinks that changing his Housing Minister without changing his failed policies will help anyone.
“Labour cannot continue tinkering to fix a housing crisis that is destroying people.”
Ms O’Neil did not respond to Mr Chandler-Mather on Sunday, but did thank Mr Albanese for giving her the opportunity “to address one of the biggest issues that people in my community are talking to me about – housing for all Australians”.
Max Chandler-Mather fired off five furious messages on Sunday (pictured), moments after the cabinet reshuffle.
“I got into politics to make people’s lives better,” he wrote.
“Nothing is more fundamental to the health and wellbeing of Australians than safe and affordable housing.”
Sunday’s reshuffle was necessitated by the resignation of Minister for Aboriginal Australians Linda Burney and Minister for Skills and Training Brendan O’Connor on Friday.
On Saturday, Tasmanian Senator Carol Brown announced she would be stepping down as Associate Minister for Transport and Infrastructure for health reasons.
Mr Albanese took the opportunity to reshuffle his ministry ahead of the upcoming federal election, which must be held before May 2025.
Ms O’Neil and Immigration Minister Andrew Giles were shaken after months of negative publicity following last year’s High Court ruling on NZYQ which led to convicted criminal asylum seekers being released from indefinite detention.
Pictured: Former Immigration Minister Andrew Giles with former Home Secretary Clare O’Neil
Among those released were seven who had committed murder or attempted murder and 37 sex offenders, including child sex offenders.
Another 72 were convicted of assault and violent crimes including kidnapping and armed robbery, 16 had convictions for domestic violence and stalking and 13 committed serious drug-related offenses.
Supreme Court rulings are independent of government decisions, but Labour bore the brunt of criticism for its handling of the aftermath.
Mr Giles replaced Mr O’Connor as Minister for Skills and Training.
Tony Burke was assigned to oversee immigration and multicultural affairs, home affairs, cybersecurity and the arts.
