The discovery of the critically endangered grassland earless dragon, once thought to be extinct, has cast further doubt over Labor's promise to build 800,000 new homes.
While environmental assessments take place, a number of earmarked development sites will be paused, including around Lovely Banks, Marrimu, Parwan, and Bacchus Marsh – totalling more than 300,000 homes.
This puts Labor's promise to build 80,000 homes a year for the next 10 years further out of reach.
Shadow Minister for Home Ownership and Housing Affordability, Evan Mulholland, said: "Labor made grand promises about housing without planning for unexpected events, and Victorians have already seen several delays within the first six months after the announcement.
"After almost a decade in office, Labor can't manage the housing crisis and Victorians are paying the price with higher and higher house prices.
"Labor's con job of a housing statement just went from endangered to extinct."
