Rebecca White (Lyons, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise this morning to note the substantial investment the Australian Labor government is making in housing in my electorate of Lyons and to share some of the stories of people whose lives have been transformed as a result.

We are delivering nearly 300 social and affordable homes through the Housing Australia Future Fund in towns like Campbelltown, Carrick, Hadspen, Bridgewater, Triabunna and Perth—a program that the Leader of the Opposition has pledged to cancel if the coalition is elected. These are new homes that will support the people in my electorate, like Sarah and her kids, who recently told me that they've been waiting 12 years on the state Liberal government's social housing register.

We're also supporting renters, who have seen an increase in Commonwealth rent assistance by more than 50 per cent since we were elected, and that's helping to make renting more affordable for more than 8,500 families in Lyons. We understand that the ultimate goal for many renters is to one day own a home of their own. That's why I'm really proud that our five per cent deposit scheme has supported nearly 800 of my constituents into homeownership. Tasmanians like Jessica and Romain, who were facing eviction from their rental because it was going to be sold, were able to become owners of their home through the five per cent deposit scheme. That's why our government is reforming the capital gains tax and negative gearing to refocus incentives on new builds and to give young people and first home buyers a real crack at owning their own home. We're delivering on our 100,000 new homes for first home buyers plan, including through the recent agreement that we've struck with the Tasmanian government. With $165 million of federal support on the table, we'll deliver enabling infrastructure to support 4,000 new homes, including more than 2,100 just for first home buyers.

In my electorate of Lyons, there will be significant new investments in communities like Brighton, Sorell and Meander Valley, where 2,700 new homes will be developed, with almost 1,100 reserved just for first home buyers. On top of that, I was recently able to join the Prime Minister to announce 1,000 new homes at Dowsing Point. These are homes that will help thousands of people find a place to call their own. Ultimately, that's what our housing policies are all about—a safe place to live for Sarah and her kids, making renting a bit more affordable and a real shot at homeownership for people like Jessica and Romain. A fair go for all Australians.