Angry moment Jacqui Lambie loses it to Greens senator over ‘disgusting’ tactics on government housing package
- Jacqui Lambie slammed Greens Senator over Housing Bill
- Senator Pocock said the fund was “insufficient” for tenants
- Senator Lambie criticized the Greens for inaction
Jacqui Lambie has fired on Barbara Pocock, Senator from the Greens, calling her party’s opposition to the Albanian government’s housing package “disgusting”.
An argument broke out between the two senators during a discussion of the government’s $10 billion Housing Affordability Future Fund on Sky News Australia as the federal budget was handed over at Parliament on Tuesday night.
The $10 billion fund, which will be voted on this week in the Senate, will build 30,000 new social and affordable homes over the next five years.
Independent Senator Jacqui Lambie (pictured) protesting to Senator Barbara Pocock of the Greens over the government’s Housing Affordability Future Fund
The government needs the support of the Greens to pass the bill, but the Greens have stood against it because the party claims the package does not go far enough to help tenants.
Senator Pocock argued that there was not enough support for tenants and a lack of housing supply that was not keeping up with population growth under the fund.
Senator Lambie agreed when Senator Pocock described her amendments to the bill as ‘insufficient’ for her state of South Australia.
“But the thing is, if you don’t start building these houses now, there will be more people,” she said.
“You have to start doing something now, you have the biggest balance of power in that goddamn senate up there, that’s what you got, and you can’t keep making deals for more housing? You are kidding me.’
“You have to start today, those people need a roof over their heads today.”
Senator Pocock, who remained straight-faced and tight-lipped throughout the diatribe, defended her position, arguing that more hire help was needed.
But Senator Lambie immediately fired back, claiming the Greens politician could now act with her “balance of power.”
South Australian Greens Senator Barbara Pocock (pictured) called for more tenant support and an increase in housing supply to keep pace with population growth
“You have that great balance of power. You have more than what Tammy (Tyrell) and I have, I can tell you, and you don’t use it.”
“You want to prevent people from having a roof over their heads, that’s disgusting,” she added.
The Jacqui Lambie Network signed a deal with the government on the Housing Act, which guarantees that a minimum of 1,200 social and affordable homes will be built in every area and state over the next five years.
JLN Senator Tammy Tyrrell, who helped secure the deal, said the Greens could deliver “nothing.”
“The Greens should support the Housing Australia Future Fund,” she said.
The government wants a vote on the bill before the Senate revolts on Thursday.
While Labor has the backing of independents, the Greens are sticking to a more ambitious plan.
