In the middle of the worst housing crisis in Australia’s history, a major national debate has emerged over the Labor government’s proposed centerpiece housing policy, the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF).

The Australian Labor Party (ALP) requires the support of Greens MPs to pass their housing plan through Parliament. However, in its current form, Labor’s plan will see the housing crisis worsen, while doing nothing to support renters. Instead, the Greens have launched a national campaign demanding that Labor directly invests billions in building public and genuinely affordable housing. The Greens are demanding as well that the Labor government coordinate a national two-year freeze on rent increases, followed by 2 percent cap every two years on future rent increases.

So far, Labor has refused and has instead attacked Greens MPs — myself included — for “standing in the way,” while its allies in the media have tried to argue that “something is better than nothing.” In a less-than-veiled threat, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he is willing to let the bill fail and instead take it to the next election.