Over in the senate and Labor and the Coalition have voted for the legislation that allows the Australian government to expand its defence housing scheme to build homes for US soldiers working on the Aukus contracts.

Greens senator David Shoebridge says it is ridiculous:

The Greens have for years been campaigning for more public housing. The Albanese Government has attacked these calls, labelling public housing as unrealistic. Turns out it wasn’t. 

Today we learned if you want to live in public housing built by Labor you’d better join the US military and get Donald Trump on your side. 

AUKUS is draining public funding into the pockets of the US military and foreign arms companies. 

This Bill will not just allow for the Albanese Government to build houses for US troops but also for foreign arms companies and contractors. That means public housing for contractors from Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Elbit Systems, Rafael and others. 

It is a sick joke that Labor will be taking money from critical social programs, including funding to build houses for Australians in desperate need, and instead spend it on housing US troops in Fremantle.

The first major housing bill that this government passes will be about paying tribute to Donald Trump and the US military. That’s a disturbing message about the priorities of this government.”