Restricting the period but not the amount rents can be increased does very little but set in place the impression of limits before an election cycle.
Andrews says “Everything is on the table”. Perhaps he should consider a break with the entire history of his government and start investing in public housing at scale rather than the current social housing rort.
The trouble is that in the long term, without additional schemes to encourage construction (or public housing construction), rent controls discourage new dwelling construction.
However it is still a solvable problem. For example Germany subsidises new builds, as long as you do agree to rent controls. Hence housing co-ops and private investors are encouraged to invest in affordable housing.