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Greens call on Labor to back rent freeze bill as Adelaide rent prices surge past Melbourne

30 January 2025

The Greens are calling for the Malinauskas Government to back a rent freeze in State Parliament, as a new report released by PropTrack today reveals that Adelaide’s median weekly rent has now surpassed that of Melbourne. Median weekly rent in Adelaide is now $580, 7.4 per cent higher than this time last year, while rents in regional SA are up 8.1 per cent.

“With homeowners likely to receive relief from interest rates in the coming weeks it’s only reasonable that renters are given a reprieve from skyrocketing rent prices too,” said Greens Housing Spokesperson Robert Simms MLC.

“I have a bill before Parliament that would freeze rents for 2 years and cap increases in line with inflation, which would insert some fairness back into the housing market. With the support of Labor, we could make this law — I urge them to work with the Greens to make it happen,” Mr Simms said.

“During times of crisis in the past rent freezes have been effective. We had a moratorium on rent hikes at the height of the COVID pandemic, for instance. As prices continue to soar and more and more South Australians are being pushed into poverty and homelessness the Government must step in—leaving renters at the mercy of the market is simply not acceptable. Housing should be about people, not profit.”