Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Housing) Share this | Hansard source

Have a look at interest rates and the unaffordability that we saw because of interest rate increases that, when you were in government, you promised would never happen. Turning for a moment to the suggestion that has been made about the mining tax and housing costs, this is an absolute furphy that is being perpetuated once again by the self-interest of the opposition in league with their bosses, the mining companies—bought and paid for by the Australian mining companies.

We know that what is affecting housing affordability is the huge investment that this government has made in ensuring that more homes are built. Half a billion dollars through the Housing Affordability Fund has helped thousands of Australian home buyers buy a more affordable home. Hundreds of thousands of blocks and homes are more affordable because of the Housing Affordability Fund. More than a quarter of a million Australians have been helped into a home of their own by the first home owner boost, seeing the largest proportion of first home buyers entering the market in decades. I will tell you something else.

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