Leon Rebello (McPherson, Liberal National Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Housing. A secret internal RBA memo says that migration policy is a 'main way that the government influences the housing market'. This government has brought in a record 1.4 million migrants. So isn't it the truth that Labor's migration policies have made it harder—

Hon. Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

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

Order! Members on my right! Whatever's being said across the chamber will cease immediately. I don't know what was being said, but we're not going to have interjections. Just as the member for Melbourne was shown the respect, the member for McPherson is going to be given the same courtesy. I couldn't hear the question. If everyone can just control themselves while questions are being asked, on both sides, the House will benefit from that action. The member for McPherson will begin his question again.

Leon Rebello (McPherson, Liberal National Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Housing. A secret internal RBA memo says that migration policy is a 'main way that the government influences the housing market'. This government has brought in a record 1.4 million migrants. So isn't it the truth that Labor's migration policies have made it harder for Australians, including new Australians, to afford a home?

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

I thank the member for McPherson for his question. It's actually a really important question, and I'm glad he's asked it of me. Migration is a piece of the puzzle here, and that is exactly why our government has acted to bring migration down. This is the detail that seems to get lost with those opposite: migration is now almost half what it reached after its post-COVID high.

Now, if I can say really respectfully to those opposite, the main game here is that we've got to build more homes for Australians. For forty years, our country has not been building enough homes. Those opposite can laugh and guffaw and play politics. Those opposite can laugh and guffaw all they like; I encourage them to do it. Opposition is a very frustrating time. I completely understand. But the truth is we've got to take this problem seriously, and the serious answer is that we've got to build, build, build. That is why our government has the boldest and most ambitious housing policy that a Commonwealth government has had for 70 years—$47 billion, and the main goal and the main game is building, building, building.

I say again, respectfully, to those opposite that it takes a little bit of moxie to be coming into this parliament and asking me, as housing minister, questions about the housing crisis that those opposite played a very significant hand in creating for our country.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

Order! Members on my left! The member was heard in silence to give him respect. I'm asking the same respect be shown to the minister as well. It's a two-way street.

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

There's a really simple and inarguable truth here. Had those opposite not sat on the Treasury benches for nine years doing absolutely nothing about this problem, we would be much better positioned to address it.

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

The minister will pause. Has the minister concluded her answer?

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

No.

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

Resume your seat for a second. We'll hear from the Manager of Opposition Business on a point of order.

Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction) | Link to this | Hansard source

It goes to relevance. This question didn't mention the opposition once. It was about the 1.4 million migrants you've let in. Can you bring the minister back to the question, please?

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) | Link to this | Hansard source

On the point of order, the total figure that they referred to, the biggest year that led to that figure, was entirely under their settings, and therefore—

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

The manager, on a point of order.

Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction) | Link to this | Hansard source

That is an abuse of standing orders. It's not true. You brought them all in!

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

Just as the member for Flinders abused the standing orders, both of you, then, just abused the standing orders. So if everyone can just follow the standing orders, we won't be put in that position. The manager was correct. The minister wasn't asked about the opposition's policies. She was asked about a figure and the impact that that has and regarding a memo that is floating around regarding that topic. So she won't be able to talk about the opposition's policies, because she wasn't asked about the opposition's policies.

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

This is an important piece of the puzzle. Again, I respect that you asked it, but, unfortunately, the member finds himself in a political party that played a significant role in bringing us to where we are today—and our government is actually standing up and doing something about it.

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

The minister was going close to defying the speaker then. Order! When I say to return to the question, that means return to the question.