ACT Greens Member for Brindabella Johnathan Davis MLA has responded with disappointment and frustration to yesterday's announcement from Federal Finance Minister Senator Katy Gallagher that the Albanese Labor Government is "not in a position" to forgive the ACT's almost $100m historic housing debt in the upcoming Federal Government budget.
In June 2022, Johnathan Davis MLA secured tri-partisan support for a motion in the ACT Legislative Assembly that called on the newly elected Albanese Labor Government to forgive the ACT's historic housing debt. Additionally, the motion called on the ACT Government to commit to investing any savings from debt forgiveness back into buying and building more public housing in addition to already announced investments.
"That the Albanese Labor Government is 'in a position' to back in the Morrison Governments Stage 3 Tax Cuts but not 'in a position' to support the ACT Governments ambition to end homelessness by buying and building more public housing is a slap in the face to every Canberran struggling to secure a roof over their head" Mr Davis said.
"The ACT Government is making the single biggest investment into public housing in the history of self-government, supported by the ACT Greens, having secured a commitment in the Parliamentary & Governing Agreement to increase the supply of public housing by at least 400 properties by 2025"
"Unlike other state and territory governments who are advocating for their historic housing debt to be forgiven, the ACT Government has committed to investing savings from debt forgiveness dollar-for-dollar back into buying and building more public housing in addition to this already record investment"
"Australians voted for a change of Federal Government because they wanted change. Tax cuts for the rich while more and more people struggle to find a home? Sounds like more of the same old 'trickle down' neo-liberal con to me" Mr Davis concluded.
