Vow to help 150,000 homebuyers

The Victorian opposition has vowed to “unlock” 150,000 extra lots of land across Victoria over a two-year period and turn renters into homeowners under a Coalition government.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy has chosen to open the second week of the election campaign by talking about housing, while Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews focused on health policy on Monday morning.

Mr Guy accused the state government of “inaction on land supply” and reiterated releasing more land would “lower prices for first-home buyers” while visiting Manor Lakes, in Melbourne’s southwest, on Monday.

“We don’t give up on the great Australian dream of being able to own your own home,” Mr Guy said.

“Having (these) extra lots of land over two years – helping Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat, the Latrobe Valley, Bendigo, even smaller towns – means that there is more opportunity for Victorians to buy their first home.

“Victorians deserve to be homeowners, not renting for life.

“Our plan will slash red tape and speed up planning processes to unlock more land, make it more affordable to enter the market and make owning your own home a reality.”

Mr Guy also accused the Labor government of failing to sign off on an adequate number of infrastructure plans – known as precinct structure plans (PSPs) – to guide development of an area over time.

“We’ve got PSPs stuck with the minister years, years, years and years with no targets,” he said.

“Each time the minister holds up a structure plan, he’s holding up the ability for there to be greater competition in the development industry.

“Competition can only benefit the consumer, those trying to buy a home.

“What we’re saying is we’ll have a target.”

A new “planning flying squad” will also be established by the Coalition, which aims to speed up and simplify the planning approvals process in regional Victoria.

Mr Guy said the Victorian Planning Authority had a “long list” of areas across the state that were ready to be signed off, having passed the relevant approvals.