Strong communities look after each other 

It’s in the tough times that our community shows what it’s really about. 

Right now, we’re in a cost-of-living crisis. We’ve just come through the pandemic. And, by the looks of the weather reports, this summer could be one of the hottest on record. 

But whatever is thrown at us here, our community sticks together. We innovate, create, we celebrate, and we build community. 

We face serious challenges ahead, and we have to stick together to look after one another. 

Currently, we’re facing a housing crisis. Listed rents have gone up more than 20 per cent across the city, and real wages have gone backwards. 

More and more people are finding it hard to keep a roof over their head. 

It’s dreadful waiting on the next letter from the real estate agent, or the next meeting of the Governor of the Reserve Bank to find out whether you can afford to live in your home.  

It’s really disappointing that the government has the power to act on these things, but they’re choosing not to. 

During the past few weeks, the government has announced it has secured a budget surplus. What good is a budget surplus to people who can’t find a place to live? 

The Greens are fighting back. In Victoria, we’re trying to stop the state government selling off public housing, and in Canberra, we’re pushing the government to freeze rents and mortgages, and limit future rent increases, and to directly invest a lot more in public and social housing. 

Our pressure is paying off. In the last sitting week, the Greens secured $2b in direct investment for social and affordable housing from Labor. 

Having secured this, we now must keep fighting to ensure everyone can get and keep a roof over their head. 

In a country as wealthy as ours, everyone should be able to find a safe and affordable place to rest their head at the end of the day. •