{
  "id": 5082786,
  "title": "Frosty reception as major parties lock horns on housing",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/frosty-reception-as-major-parties-lock-horns-on-housing",
  "topic": null,
  "section": null,
  "published": "2026-09-02T09:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Discovered",
    "slug": "discovered",
    "url": "https://southcoastregister.com.au/story/9342710/frosty-reception-as-major-parties-lock-horns-on-housing"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Three major parties in Victoria's upcoming state election have presented contrasting plans to tackle the housing crisis. During a debate at Crown Melbourne, Victorian Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny unveiled an expanded 10-day planning permit process, allowing developments with up to four homes on a block - up from the previous limit of two - to be assessed in 10 business days without council objection. The policy received applause from a lone audience member, representing the Australian Property Developers Association.\n\nSalta Property managing director Sam Tarascio criticized the state for a lack of developer confidence due to successive policy changes, stating that the number of developers questioning Victoria as their preferred location was \"quite depressing.\"\n\nOpposition housing spokesman David Southwick challenged Labor's progress towards the 2023 target to build 800,000 homes over a decade, pointing out that only 55,000 new homes were completed in 2025. He backed the coalition's proposal to raise Victoria's land tax threshold to $300,000 and drop a Labor target for 70% of new homes to be built in established areas, arguing that the market should dictate this decision rather than the government.\n\nOne Nation's Victorian leader Warren Pickering pledged to roll back windfall gains and land taxes, reverting the threshold back to $300,000, if his party formed government. He claimed the Liberals were equally committed to this change.\n\nMeanwhile, Premier Ben Carroll attempted to shift blame for removing a taxpayer-funded statue of former Labor leader Daniel Andrews, which cost $134,000. He described the policy introduced by former Liberal premier Jeff Kennett as a \"stupid waste of money.\" Instead, Carroll pledged $270 million to upgrade a road in Melbourne's north.\n\nOpposition Leader Jess Wilson visited Geelong's Waurn Ponds to advocate for increased regional V/Line train capacity as part of a $1.7 billion plan to purchase 25 hybrid-electric trains for the Melton and Wyndham Vale lines.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}