Melissa McIntosh (Lindsay, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

As part of the Morrison government's plan for Lindsay, we're backing hardworking Australians to unlock their potential, and we're supporting housing availability and accessibility as Western Sydney grows. I would like the thank the member for Macnamara for bringing the private member's bill to the House. I, too, am passionate, just like Assistant Minister Howarth is, about affordability and, in particular, helping the community sector grow to scale to be able to provide more housing for people across Western Sydney. I've worked in the social housing sector and I've worked with people experiencing homelessness—people who are trying to get back on their feet, get into a secure home and get a job.

I know that getting into the housing market is critical to having financial security. The Morrison government is committed to working with the community housing sector. Just this morning, we had a meeting with Wendy Hayhurst, the CEO of the Community Housing Industry Association. We want to make sure that they're getting everything they need to do their job well. Wendy spoke about the growing affordable housing industry and affordable housing sector, including in Western Sydney. I was very fortunate to attend the opening of Evolve's new community housing in Penrith with Minister Sukkar, the Minister for Housing. One of the key things here, as we look at how having affordable housing can make people feel more secure and able to get a job, is that we also have to acknowledge that there are barriers to people having lifelong tenure in community housing. This is one of the barriers to people having that incentive to get back on their feet. When I worked in the community housing sector, we looked at how we support women who want to get back on their feet financially and get financial security so they have housing independence—women who had experienced domestic violence and women who had experienced intergenerational welfare. One of the biggest barriers we have in community housing and social housing is that lifetime tenure. People don't want to get out of social housing unless they have incentives to do so.

The Morrison government's First Home Loan Deposit Scheme is also helping other people across my electorate of Lindsay to buy their first home, supporting 10,000 first home buyers each financial year by guaranteeing eligible homebuyers on low and middle incomes, so they can purchase their first home with a deposit of as little as five per cent. Many hardworking Australians are only locked out of this financial security by the barrier of a 20 per cent deposit. We're backing them in and rewarding their hard work by breaking down this barrier.

The Morrison government is also unlocking the potential of our diverse and vibrant community with a $5.3 billion infrastructure investment into Western Sydney. This is about 11,000 jobs during the building of the Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport. This is about 28,000 jobs when the airport opens. There will be demand in Western Sydney for skills in science, technology, engineering, space and advanced manufacturing. If we want our kids to stay in Western Sydney to be educated and trained in the jobs of the future, we will also need to help them fulfil their aspiration of working hard and owning their own home, and that is why it is so important to have these policies.

The Morrison government is committed to backing hardworking people in Western Sydney and across Australia by helping them reach their aspiration of their very first home by delivering complementary incentives to reduce pressure on housing affordability and to support local communities. The government is investing $1 billion in local infrastructure to unlock new housing supply in partnership with local councils through the National Housing Infrastructure Facility and is releasing suitable Commonwealth land for more housing opportunities. As I said, our First Home Super Saver scheme helps Australians build their deposit for a first home inside their superannuation by making voluntary contributions. These incentives delivered by the Morrison government have helped thousands of first homebuyers to get on to the first rung of the property ladder and to enter the market. In the past year alone, more than 110,000 people have bought their first homes, the highest number since 2009. We are contributing alongside state and territory governments to support a sustainable community housing sector with almost $6 billion in federal funding to improve housing outcomes, are helping 1.3 million Australians pay their rent with $4.6 billion in Commonwealth rent assistance and helping those who do it tough with more than $1.5 billion each year through the National Housing and Homelessness Agreement. I acknowledge Assistant Minister Howarth on the hard work he is doing in this space. The Morrison government has a proven track record of delivering a strong economy, of delivering the essential services Australians rely on and of providing greater housing accessibility and availability.

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