Media Statements

Joint Statement - Labor's growth corridor plan scam

Joint Statement – Labor’s growth corridor plan scam

John Pesutto, Leader of the Opposition

James Newbury, Shadow Minister for Planning

Today’s announcement that the Allan Labor Government has unlocked housing in Melbourne’s growth corridors is yet another sham that will do nothing to address Victoria’s housing crisis.

The announcement centred on Labor releasing its 10-Year Greenfield Plan to deliver more housing across Melbourne’s outskirts, but failed to explain that it will take a decade for many of the precinct structure plans (PSPs) to be finalised.

Only 10 of the 33 PSPs Labor claims to be unlocking are already in development, while a further 10 will not be complete for another decade.

Meanwhile, owners of the land that are waiting for the PSPs to be finalised, will continue to pay land tax, increasing the cost of land for future homebuilders. This cost will always end up being added to the cost of the final home.

As the Property Council has said, the announcement: “fails to answer key questions about how delivery will be sped up, including how current barriers such as drainage and other infrastructure delays, or inconsistent cultural heritage requirements, will be adequately addressed.”

Leader of the Opposition, John Pesutto, said: “Today’s announcement from Labor is nothing more than a sham that will do nothing to address Victoria’s housing crisis.

“After 10 years in power, Labor is spinning an announcement to fix the housing crisis they caused, and which won’t deliver the volume of housing they are promising within 10 years.”

“This will do little to address the supply and affordability issues young Victorians are experiencing now.”

Shadow Minister for Planning, James Newbury, said: “After announcing super skyscrapers across Melbourne’s suburbs, the Premier has peddled false news claiming she will deliver housing in the outer suburbs, but the fine print shows her own timeline runs for over a decade.

“After failing to outline how it will build the infrastructure to support tens of thousands of more people in Melbourne’s inner suburbs, Labor has today failed to outline how it will deliver the infrastructure that growth corridors are crying out for.”

John Pesutto, Leader of the Opposition

James Newbury, Shadow Minister for Planning