Ali France (Dickson, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

For too long, owning a home of your own has been out of reach for many people in my electorate of Dickson, a problem that has been decades in the making. We are now doing everything we can to catch up. That includes our five per cent deposit scheme for first-time homebuyers. I was at Warner Marketplace recently when a bloke named Matt called me over. He said: 'Thanks. You guys got us our house.' Matthew and his wife were paying $700 a week in rent while raising four kids and trying desperately to save enough for a deposit for a place of their own. They'd almost given up when they applied for Labor's five per cent deposit scheme, were approved and moved into their new home last month.

Since we came to government, 1,713 people in Dickson have been able to buy their first home with a five per cent deposit. We're also investing in more social and affordable housing. Through the Housing Australia Future Fund, 153 new homes are being delivered in Joyner in my community. For renters, we've delivered real relief with back-to-back increases to Commonwealth rent assistance, nearly a 50 per cent boost, supporting 7,230 people in Dickson. Congratulations to Matthew and his family. Their story shows that our record investment in housing is making a real difference.