ACT Independent Senator David Pocock has agreed a wide-ranging deal with the government to ensure passage of key cost-of-living legislation and a number of additional commitments.
As part of the agreement:
- significant amendments to the build-to-rent legislation were agreed, including five year leases for tenants, no cause evictions and a truly affordable component of some 80,000 new properties and passage of the bill;
- bringing forward the mandatory food and grocery code to better protect Australians struggling with record high prices;
- $10 million in federal funding for gene drive technology research and development to address invasive species; and
- and two further significant measures that will be announced in the coming days.
Disappointingly the Government and the Greens refused Senator Pocock’s good faith proposal to move forward with the Nature Positive Bills in this sitting period and the transparency and disclosure elements of electoral reform.
In return Senator Pocock will support a range of bills (some with amendment) that have been in front of the senate for months or have been agreed to in negotiations.
Senator Pocock thanked Housing and Homelessness Minister Clare O’Neil, crossbench colleagues including Kate Chaney MP, Kylea Tink MP and Allegra Spender MP and advocates Community Housing Industry Association, National Shelter and the Property Council who have pushed hard for the build-to-rent changes, alongside electoral reform and other key improvements.
“I am here to negotiate constructive outcomes and deliver for my community and that’s what I have done today,” Senator Pocock said.
“Alongside environment and health, housing and cost-of-living are the top two issues Canberrans constantly raise with me.
“Today’s agreement with the government will deliver tangible benefits to people in the ACT and around the country.”