Australia's Housing Minister Clare O'Neil has been accused of "gaslighting" Australians after appearing to dismiss concerns about rents potentially rising by as much as 30 per cent. The claim emerged during a television interview in which Sunrise host Natalie Barr pressed the minister to specify exactly how much rents were likely to increase, reflecting growing public anxiety over the cost of housing under the Albanese government.

The full detail of the exchange was not available in the source material, but the row centres on the minister's response to the 30 per cent rent rise figure and whether her answer adequately addressed Australians' concerns. Critics seized on her comments as evasive, while Barr's pointed follow-up question underscored ongoing scrutiny of the government's handling of the housing affordability crisis.