Australia Faces Potential Early Election as Housing Bill Stalls
Australia could be heading for an early election due to a parliamentary deadlock over a housing bill. The opposition parties are threatening to block the government’s flagship housing package for the second time, which could give the government the constitutional trigger for an early election.
The deadlock centers around the center-left Labor government’s A$10 billion housing package. The Greens party is refusing to pass the bill through the upper house unless there are changes to increase spending and cap rents.
According to the constitution, the government can dissolve both houses of parliament if the upper house blocks a bill passed by the lower house twice. In June, The Greens joined forces with the opposition center-right Liberal Party to delay the housing bill, leading to the current impasse.
As parliament resumed on Monday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed his preference for the bill to pass through the Senate. However, if that doesn’t happen, it could trigger a double-dissolution election that focuses attention on the housing policy.
Albanese stated, Well, I’d rather not have it. I’d rather have this policy passed…What it does is mean that can be a focus, and then you have a joint sitting after a double-dissolution election is held.
Under normal circumstances, an election in Australia would be due around early 2025. However, if the housing bill remains stalled, an early election could take place.
Both Labor and the Greens support taking action to address Australia’s housing crisis but differ in their approaches. Labor has proposed creating a A$10 billion fund to finance social and affordable housing annually, with a minimum of A$500 million investment. On the other hand, The Greens are pushing for A$2.5 billion in annual housing spending and a controversial national freeze on rents.
If an early election does occur, it would be only the eighth double-dissolution election in Australia since the nation’s inception in 1901. The most recent one took place in 2016 when the Liberal Party triggered it over various jobs and union bills, resulting in their return to power with fewer senate seats.
The housing bill deadlock reflects the ongoing challenges in Australia’s housing market, where high prices and affordability issues have become a significant concern. As the political parties debate the best way forward, it remains to be seen whether a resolution can be reached, preventing the need for an early election.
