‘Sliding doors moment': Fiery housing debate sets stage for leaders’ face-off
Clare O’Neil and Michael Sukkar sparred over housing policy in a combative debate, as both major parties make bold pitches to frustrated first home buyers.
Aiming to entrench his lead in the polls, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will be hoping for a headline-free debate when he faces Opposition Leader Peter Dutton on Wednesday evening.
But earlier in the day, Housing Minister Clare O’Neil and her Liberal counterpart Michael Sukkar delivered a fiery exchange at the National Press Club.
Both sides are acutely aware that Australia’s housing crisis has morphed into a political crisis. Each made bold housing policy pledges at their duelling campaign launches on Sunday.
They face a political bind — balancing the needs of younger Australians locked out of the market with those of older voters for whom property is an increasingly large share of their portfolio.
