The fight over housing in Victoria has sharpened again as the Government and Opposition trade warnings over what each side says will make it harder for young people to buy a home.
The Government has pushed its planning overhaul as a way to get more properties built near transport, jobs and services. It says its changes will cut delays, lift supply and help younger Victorians stay close to the communities where they grew up. A spokesperson said the reforms had industry backing because they “deliver more homes, more quickly”.
The Government argues the Liberal Party is standing in the way of getting more homes built. Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny says Liberal MP Jess Wilson and her colleagues are preparing to block the legislation, and warns this will slow down construction and keep home ownership out of reach for many renters and first-time buyers. She said, “Jess Wilson’s Liberals have outed themselves again as the party of NIMBYs and red tape”.
It has taken aim at population shifts in parts of Melbourne, pointing to a KPMG report that found Boroondara, which includes Kew, lost more than 6,500 people under the age of 65 within five years. The Government says this is linked to planning rules that restrict new housing and push younger workers further out. Its position is blunt. “While Liberals cut and block, Labor builds.”
The Opposition has returned fire with its own warning, accusing the Government of placing a fresh cost on new homes. It says Labor plans to introduce more than 11,000 dollars in charges on every new home built in 58 activity centres across the state. It argues this will lift costs for developers and flow directly to homebuyers and renters.
Shadow Planning Minister David Southwick said: “Labor simply doesn’t get it – you cannot tax your way to more affordable homes.” He said the measure would “push dreams of home ownership further out of reach”.
The Coalition has linked the proposed charge to Victoria’s rising debt, warning that money raised through the tax has no guarantee of being spent on local roads, parks, or public transport. Southwick added: “Labor’s latest property tax grab means higher rents, fewer homes and will push dreams of home ownership further out of reach.”
The Government says the reforms it is trying to pass will get homes built sooner. The Opposition says the Government’s approach risks driving up prices while placing more strain on the construction sector. With both sides claiming to be defending the interests of young buyers, the next stage of the parliamentary debate is shaping up as a test of which argument resonates more with Victorians.
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