Andrew Bartlett (Queensland, Australian Democrats) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to Senator Evans, the Minister representing the Minister for Housing. The minister earlier in question time clearly demonstrated he is aware of the enormous housing affordability crisis in Australia, as well as the serious neglect of this key issue by the previous government. The minister also outlined the policy announcements his government has made to date to try to alleviate the problem. Does the minister believe that the government’s policy announcements to date are sufficient to deal with the housing affordability crisis, or does the minister agree with Ann Harding, the author of the NATSEM report, that much more needs to be done? What further plans, if any, does the government have to tackle this serious problem? In particular, will the government agree to consider the recommendations put forward by the Productivity Commission in 2004, long ignored by the previous government, to examine the impact on housing affordability of the taxation system, including the various deductions, discounts, incentives and grants that impact on housing and rental prices?