Labor notches win as time runs out on political year

With the clock ticking towards the end of the parliamentary year, the federal government is racing to clear the decks before the Christmas break. Login or signup to continue reading Labor notched a win early in the final sitting week on housing after the Greens agreed to back its Help to Buy and Build to Rent schemes, effectively removing two longstanding millstones from the government's neck. But there are still more than 30 pieces of legislation before parliament and just days to go before the major parties clear out of Canberra and set their sights on 2025 and a looming federal election.

Among them are a world-first social media ban for children younger than 16, electoral reforms and migration changes. The two housing bills were among the biggest barnacles the government wanted to get rid of before the end of 2024, with Labor previously criticising the Greens for being obstructionist to the reforms. Greens leader Adam Bandt said after months of negotiations with the government on the housing bill, they would green light the proposals.



"There comes a point where you've pushed as far as you can,'' Mr Bandt said. "We tried hard to get Labor to shift on soaring rents and negative gearing, but we couldn't get there this time. "We'll wave the housing bills through and take the fight to the next election, where we'll keep Peter Dutton out and then push Labor to act on unlimited rent rises and tax handouts to wealthy property investors.

" The Help to Buy laws, a shared equity scheme which would allow first homebuyers to purchase a property with a smaller deposit, are set to be debated on Tuesday. Housing Minister Clare O'Neil, who had challenged the Greens to come to the bargaining table, said the minor party's delay agreeing to the laws had cost thousands of people access to the property market. "I'm glad they've finally seen the light, but it doesn't excuse the fact that they have played politics on housing for two-and-a-half years," she said.

"The net effect of the Greens in this term of parliament is to delay action on housing and cause greater pain for Australians who are in housing distress." The federal government's attack on the Greens follows the Queensland election in October, when the minor party lost a seat, bolstering hopes for a Labor resurgence in the state at the upcoming federal poll. The election is due to be held by May.

While politicians are setting their sights on the election, several long-standing MPs gave their farewell addresses to the House of Representatives on Monday. Among those giving their valedictory speeches were Labor backbencher Brian Mitchell, coalition MPs Gavin Pearce, David Gillespie, Warren Entsch and former home affairs minister Karen Andrews. Ms Andrews, who had been in parliament since 2010, said her stint had been challenging but rewarding.

"As I leave parliament, I do so with a deep sense of pride in what has been accomplished and with enormous gratitude for the opportunity to serve the work that we do in this place matters," she said. Australian Associated Press DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update.

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