Claire Clutterham (Sturt, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I bought my first house in 2017 when I was 35. Prior to that, I'd been living overseas for almost a decade in the Middle East and Asia, seeing the world, working hard and having unforgettable experiences that have shaped the person I am today. I returned home to Adelaide in late 2016 and, as was the necessity at that time, I moved back in with my parents—a shout-out to mum and dad. As much as I love my parents, having lived out of home in various rental properties and share houses around the world since I was 23 years old, I couldn't wait to move out, to put down roots in my own little piece of the earth, to get a couple of pets, to play the music I wanted to pay, to play my piano whenever I wanted, to cook what I wanted when I wanted, to buy the type of furniture I liked, to create a little garden in a small backyard and then, in my case, with my ability to kill even resilient and tough desert plants, find a couple of neighbourhood kids who could look after that garden for me.

Being back home with mum and dad was a very strong motivation to buy a house, and I ended up buying the second house I saw. I lived by myself in that house with my pets for about four years until I met the man who would go on to become my husband and moved in with him. But that house, with its memories, still means so much to me—because it's mine. I had worked hard to save to buy it. Like many Australians, no-one helped me. I was like many Australians whose parents are hardworking but don't have the funds to provide a deposit for their children. I did it on my own, and it's my little piece of the earth. I vividly remember getting a kick every single time I drove home from work, from the shops, from the gym, from anywhere, and turned on to my street, turned up my driveway and parked in the garage of the house that I owned. I got a kick out of it every time—the knowledge that this was my house, that I was building my future, that I would have security of housing, a roof over my head, in Adelaide, a place that I love.

That feeling—that kick, that thrill, that sense of pride—is what Labor wants all Australians to experience. Labor wants Australians to feel that sense of security as they drive up their street, drive up their driveway, get out of the car and unlock the front door to their own home. Labor wants Australians to be able to put down roots in a community, to feel the pride and sense of relief that comes when people are able to access the housing market.

When I bought my house, I had a good job and a good income, and I still remember thinking: 'Gosh, this is expensive. This is tough.' Eight years after I bought a house, things are even tougher. It is even harder to save for a 20 per cent deposit, even if you have a good job and a good income.

The housing environment that we are in has been decades in the making, and there are no quick fixes. The Albanese Labor government understands that, and we are acting. Under the passionate leadership of a Prime Minister and Minister for Housing who are absolutely dedicated to developing a policy environment that facilitates access to the housing market for all Australians, this government is acting. The Albanese Labor government understands that too many people are working hard and trying to save to access the housing market but feeling like they will never get to experience the pride, dignity and security that homeownership brings because it feels so far out of reach. This government is listening and this government is acting.

From 1 October 2025, three months earlier than anticipated, all first home buyers will need a deposit of just five per cent, helping them to buy a home sooner, helping them into long-term security sooner, helping them to maybe start a family sooner and put roots down in their community. This will not only benefit the first home buyers of my electorate of Sturt; it will benefit first home buyers across Australia. On housing, the Albanese Labor government is listening, and we are acting. In addition to only needing a five per cent deposit, cutting years off the time it takes to save for a deposit, first home buyers will not have to dig further into their pockets to pay for mortgage insurance. There is more. There are no income limits, no limits on places, and house price caps that better reflect the cost of homes across Australia.

My electorate of Sturt is diverse. It runs across Adelaide's eastern belt. It's a mix of young people, families, blue collar workers, white collar workers and elderly Australians who have spent decades raising their families and contributing to their community. Sturt is a beautiful part of Adelaide and a beautiful part of the world. Almost every time I speak to a resident the conversation ends with us agreeing that we are lucky to live there. The first home buyers of Sturt deserve to be able to buy a home and to put down roots in our beautiful community. So far, up to April 2025, 150 households and 220 individuals have taken advantage of the first homeowners scheme. Now, even more will be able to do so.

Whilst I was doorknocking, I met Robert. Robert told me that his son James had a university HECS debt and had to pay that off at the same time as saving for a deposit. I spoke to Robert in the months after the Albanese Labor government announced it would be wiping 20 per cent off student debt. Robert was very pleased to learn about this, and he quipped to me that James could now possibly afford to move out of home. Robert and James, that will now be a reality! With 20 per cent off his HECS debt and only a five per cent deposit required, James can access the housing market. James can be a homeowner much, much sooner than he ever thought. Under this program, a first home buyer could take up to eight years off the time it takes to save for a deposit, based on the median price of an $844,000 home, and save about $34,000 in mortgage insurance.

We know there is more work to do, but this government's housing policies have started to bear fruit. Over 180,000 Australians have bought their first home with our five per cent deposit program. One million households have received nearly a 50 per cent rent assistance increase and 500,000 homes have been built since we came to office in 2022. New housing approvals are up 30 per cent and construction costs have stabilised. We've also got 28,000 social and affordable homes, supported by our government, in planning and construction. And now, with this legislation, we go even further: reducing the cost of education, tax cuts for all Australians again and again, energy bill relief. This government is committed to cost-of-living measures for all Australians, and this critical housing announcement is a part of that, opening up the housing market even further so all first home buyers can buy a home. It is helping Australians live a productive, meaningful, secure and purposeful life.

Housing is the foundation on which every Australian experiences life in our country, and that is what we are delivering for the Australian people. That is what the Albanese Labor government have always done and that is what the Albanese Labor government will continue to do.

See this speech in context