The Coalition has criticised a request from Labor to break election rules and continue approving new housing projects during the campaign, under a fund the Opposition wants to axe. Source: ABC News.
Labor wants to continue approving Housing Australia Future Fund projects despite the Government being in caretaker mode.
Caretaker conventions prevent ministers from entering into “major contracts or undertakings” after an election has been called, given the Government could soon change.
Labor argues there are 92 projects in the “advanced stages” of negotiations for funding agreements under the Housing Australia Future Fund, and it wants to keep approving them.
Housing Minister Clare O’Neil on Wednesday wrote to her counterpart, shadow minister Michael Sukkar, seeking agreement to allow her to do so.
“I am sure you agree that additional social and affordable homes that can be delivered with funds already allocated should go ahead, so more Australians can access secure and affordable housing,” Ms O’Neil said in the letter.
“Continuing the progress of Round 1 of the HAFF will avoid costs and further delays to social and affordable housing creation and provide certainty for project proponents so that they can get on with the job.”
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has said the Housing Australia Future Fund would be dumped if he was elected, but any existing contracts signed under Labor would be honoured.
That means that if the minister did start signing new contracts ahead of the election, the Coalition would be bound to honour them.
Mr Sukkar said the request was a concession that the fund has not delivered the homes Labor promised.
“This is an embarrassing admission by Clare O’Neil that Labor’s signature housing policies haven’t produced a single additional new home in three years, with 340 homes merely “acquired and converted” under the HAFF — not new builds as promised,” he said.
Labor argues it is racing against the clock to approve projects involving thousands of new social and affordable homes, meaning it needs to act during the caretaker period.
During caretaker periods, governments routinely consult with the opposition before making any significant decisions.
FULL STORY
Labor requests to break election rules to continue approving housing projects before election (By Tom Lowrey, ABC News)
