Clare O'Neil (Hotham, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Housing) Share this | Hansard source

This is a problem that is very heavily falling on the younger people of this country, and the numbers don't lie. A lower-income young Australian is about half as likely to own their own home today as in the year that I was born. That is why our government has such a bold and ambitious agenda to address the housing situation for young people around our country. The five per cent deposit program that is so offensive to those opposite is something that has now helped 220,000 Australians into their first home on our watch. We have a pretty simple belief. We believe that ordinary Australians should get the chance to get into their own home, and we are right here to back them in.

The member asked me about alternative approaches, and what a pity it is that those opposite, once a serious political force in this country, have nothing sensible to say about one of the biggest challenges that face our country. We had the shadow minister for housing give an interview last week. He was asked about the coalition's policy, and this is what he said. I'm quoting him directly. He said, 'We've been too busy talking about the internals of the Liberal Party to do any work.' I did not make that up. Those were his exact words, and I present that to the House because it is very important for the Australian people to understand that the absolutely outrageous disunity and dysfunction that exists on the other side of the parliament actually has a cost for Australians.

This country has got some really significant issues. We need a functional opposition to actually debate and discuss these with us. They come to parliament each fortnight and spend all their time talking about themselves. Our focus is on the Australian people who sent us here and the things that we can do to make their lives better.

See this speech in context