Media reports today have exposed supermarket giant Woolworths for exploiting affordable housing development schemes to fast-track new supermarket and luxury apartment complexes.
The current housing crisis has rental vacancy rates at record lows, 175,000 people on waiting lists for social housing, and first-home buyers unable to compete with wealthy property investors.
The Greens say it's abhorrent that supermarket giant Woolworths is able to cheat the housing system for profit and get away with it.
As stated by Greens spokesperson for finance, housing and homelessness Senator Barbara Pocock:
"Billionaire price gouger Woolies is using tiny affordable housing sidebuilds with 'poor doors' to sweeten their pathway to housing profits.
"The retail giant is drinking from the trough of affordable housing for disgusting profiteering.
"This is the perfect example of big corporations maximising profit over people: Corporations fast-tracking profit from taking up housing space in the midst of a housing crisis.
"During a housing crisis, Labor is undermining affordable housing by allowing big corporations and property developers to profit.
"Supermarkets don't have Australians' best interests at heart. They've price gouged and we know where their priorities lie. They must not be let loose on housing.
"Australians have had enough of the supermarket duopoly ripping them off at the check out. What Australians want is affordable housing, not another Woolies scam.
"When state and federal governments give profit-hungry developers new avenues for profit in a housing crisis, you have to wonder who they're really working for - it's certainly not voters."
