Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Tyrrell. Despite the very few questions you have the opportunity to ask, I think you've asked me more questions than the National Party has since the election as well. It's always a pleasure to answer your questions.

Senator Tyrrell, obviously the issue around the Hobart Stadium has been a matter of some debate within the Tasmanian community, and, having spent some time in Tasmania, I know that there are very strong views about this on both sides of the debate. Our government is working with the Tasmanian government around this proposal. The Tasmanian government are, I think, on the whole, strongly supportive of it. But we're very conscious that there are a range of views on this topic. What I'd put to you is that, wherever we end up on the issue of the Hobart Stadium, it doesn't mean that we can't also be taking action when it comes to rental affordability and the housing pressures that Tasmanians are undoubtedly under.

I can take you through some of what we're doing about rental affordability, but, in the end, the answer to rental stress is a sustained boost to the supply of homes to rent and a substantial investment in new and affordable houses. Senator Tyrrell, you won't be surprised to hear me say then that the best thing the Senate can do is back the Housing Australia Future Fund. I'm actually not across what your position is on that issue, but I certainly know the views of some other Tasmanians who you're sitting right near over there. Hello, Senator Whish-Wilson. It'd be a really good thing if Senator Whish-Wilson, Senator McKim and every other Tasmanian senator joined with the government to back the Housing Australia Future Fund so that we could have that investment in affordable housing, in social housing, in housing for veterans and in housing for domestic violence victims in Tasmania and in every other part of the country. It is odd that we have the Greens and the coalition joining together as the new coalition in Australia to block affordable housing investment.