Outspoken Greens MP housing spokesman Max Chandler-Mather has threatened to hold Anthony Albanese‘s government to ransom over negative gearing and rent freeze policy, after the government’s cabinet shakeup.
The Prime Minister announced on Sunday that Victorian MP Clare O’Neil would be shifted sideways from the Home Affairs and cybersecurity portfolio into the housing and homelessness ministry.
Mr Albanese defended Ms O’Neil during a press conference, insisting she was only moved because there was a reshuffle – not over her damaged reputation following her handling of the High Court’s decision to release foreign criminals into the community.
The PM said Ms O’Neil ‘is a great communicator’ who will ‘make sure the issue of housing is dealt with’.
Labor touted a $32billion plan to build 1.2 million homes by 2029 in the Federal Budget in May, but has largely been accused of failing to tackle immediate systemic issues that prevent people from entering the housing market.
The cabinet shakeup was announced at 2pm on Sunday. By 2.24pm, Mr Chandler-Mather – who has been a consistent thorn in the PM’s side – had fired off five furious posts on X challenging Ms O’Neil to negotiate with The Greens on housing policies.
He threatened to stop Labor’s housing bills from passing unless Ms O’Neil enters discussions to freeze and eventually cap rental increases, phase out negative gearing, and properly invest in public housing.
Greens MP Max Chandler-Mather (pictured) has challenged Labor on its housing policies
Victorian MP Clare O’Neil (pictured) was the home affairs minister, but has now been moved into the housing portfolio
Mr Chandler-Mather wrote: ‘If Labor wants their housing bills passed, I call on the new housing minister, Clare O’Neil to immediately reopen negotiations with the Greens on rent freeze/caps along with phasing out tax handouts for investors and real investment in public housing.’
He then took aim at the PM, accusing him of focusing on ‘optics’ by changing the housing minister while leaving housing policies unchanged.
‘A new salesperson selling the same unlimited rent increases, skyrocketing house prices, chronic underfunding of public housing & tax handouts for investors will fail,’ he said.
‘It is typical of a political class focused on “optics” that the Prime Minister thinks changing their housing minister without changing their failed policies will help anyone.
‘Labor can’t keep tinkering around the edges of a housing crisis that is breaking people.’
Ms O’Neil did not respond to Mr Chandler-Mather on Sunday, but she did thank Mr Albanese for giving her the opportunity ‘to tackle one of the biggest problems that people in my community talk to me about – housing for every Australian’.
Max Chandler-Mather fired off five furious posts on Sunday (pictured), moments after the cabinet reshuffle
‘I got into politics to change people’s lives for the better,’ she wrote.
‘Nothing is more fundamental to the health and welfare of Australians than secure, affordable housing.’
Sunday’s reshuffle was necessary because Indigenous Australians minister Linda Burney and skills and training minister Brendan O’Connor announced their resignations on Friday.
On Saturday, Tasmanian senator Carol Brown announced she would step aside from her position as assistant minister for transport and infrastructure due to health reasons.
Mr Albanese used the opportunity to restructure his ministry ahead of the forthcoming federal election, which has to be called before May 2025.
Ms O’Neil and immigration minister Andrew Giles were both moved following months of negative publicity following the High Court’s NZYQ ruling last year that led to convicted criminal asylum seekers being released from indefinite detention.
Pictured: Former immigration minister Andrew Giles with former home affairs minister Clare O’Neil
Among those released from custody 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 offending, including kidnapping and armed robbery, 16 had domestic violence and stalking convictions and 13 committed serious drug offending.
High Court rulings are separate from governmental decisions, but Labor bore the brunt of the criticism due to their handling of the fallout.
Mr Giles took over from Mr O’Connor as skills and training minister.
Tony Burke was given immigration and multicultural affairs, home affairs, cyber security, and arts.
