Matt Smith (Leichhardt, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. How is the Albanese Labor government supporting access to housing in regional Australia and cleaning up the housing mess the government inherited?

Ms Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Leichhardt for the question. He's just an extraordinary advocate—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister will pause. The minister has been speaking for seven seconds, and the member for Fisher thinks it's appropriate to be yelling across the chamber at her. No more from the member for Fisher. He's going to show her respect while the minister is addressing the House. She has the call.

Ms Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm sure the member for Fisher would agree with just what a fabulous member the member for Leichhardt is in representing regional Australia and particularly the fantastic parts of regional Queensland. Of course, when it comes to housing, for too long regional Australians were doing it tough. Under those opposite, housing affordability and availability in the regions was, frankly, left to slide. Families were priced out, renters had no security and essential workers couldn't afford to live in the towns where they needed to work.

Now, this government knows that our regions deserve much better than this. We are taking real, practical action to support access to housing in regional Australia. Of course, the announcement we made yesterday is that, from 1 October 2025, more regional Australian also be able to access Labor's five per cent home deposits. All first home buyers in regional Australia will be eligible to qualify. We know the difference that paying a five per cent deposit will make to regional Australians—and without having to pay lenders mortgage insurance. From 1 October, not too far away, there will be no income limits and the property price caps will better reflect the cost of a home across Australia. Those living in the regions will be able to access more housing and sooner because of this decision.

Since this government changed the Home Guarantee Scheme when we came to government, we've issued over 23,500 home guarantees in the regions and we've supported some 38,500 regional Australians into homeownership. That would not have happened under those opposite. This builds on our existing $1.5 billion that we're putting into the Home Support Program to build the enabling infrastructure to deliver more homes where they are needed. It means we are speeding up planning processes and funding new infrastructure, including in the member for Capricornia's electorate, down to the member for Riverina's electorate and across to Western Australia as well. We know that, for many young Australians in particular, it is too hard to get into housing and get into their first home in the regions.

We are getting on with the job of getting regional Australians into the housing market. These changes also give a real shot in the arm to those young people and to those other people across our communities who are desperate to get into their first homes, particularly in the regions that we represent.