Julie Collins (Franklin, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Small Business) Share this | Hansard source

We are trying to turn this around, but it will take coordinated action and, indeed, significant investments. Our ambitious housing agenda is ambitious because it needs to be. We're investing more than $8 billion in the coming year on housing and homelessness services. It's why we unlocked $575 million immediately to help social and affordable rental housing get on the ground. We have homes under construction today right across the country today, including some homes in my home state that will be taking tenants in coming weeks. That's why we're working with state and territory governments to deliver tens of thousands of new rental homes through the Housing Accord and the $1.7 billion through the National Housing and Homelessness Agreement for the coming year. Our budget, as you've heard from the Treasurer, did make changes to build to rent, and the $2 billion in financing for more social and affordable rental homes, and the largest boost to Commonwealth rental assistance in more than 30 years. We've also helped more than 50,000 Australians into home ownership over the past 12 months. We're working right across the housing spectrum.

The member for Holt also asked whether the Housing Australia Future Fund could be relied upon to provide a predictable and perpetual stream of funding that this country needs for housing, and, indeed, it can. All of the experts agree that one of the best ways to provide certainty for ongoing Commonwealth investment is for the establishment of a dedicated future fund, like the Medical Research Future Fund, like drought relief. Social housing is just the same. But it's not just the experts who support this. Those opposite did exactly this when they were in office. Indeed, most of the future funds were under the Liberal government, but they're not the only ones who support future funds. Back in 2012, the now Leader of the Greens party moved, in the House, to establish a future fund. He said:

… I do believe the Future Fund has shown that it is possible for such a fund to function effectively and with fairly wide support in Australia.

I agree with him. I do agree. A future fund is a good idea to fund important social infrastructure, like housing.

Sadly, this has become all about the politics. And it shouldn't be. This is not an opportunity for doorknocking. It's not an opportunity for campaigning. It's about people on the ground, people that need homes the most. We're going to continue to stand up for people that need the homes, and the Senate should support the bill.

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