Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Dolega for that question. He's right. It's good to see somebody paying attention to the evidence base here. In June, total dwellings approved rose to 11.9 per cent over the month and 27.4 per cent over the year. Total dwellings commenced rose 11.7 per cent over the March quarter and 17.3 per cent over the year. The value of construction work rose three per cent over the June quarter and 4.8 per cent over the year. A total of 500,000 homes have been built since this government came to office. Construction costs have stabilised. We've got 28,000 social and affordable homes, supported by this government, under construction or planned. Under the previous government, over the course of a decade, 373 is all that was achieved.

We have a $43 billion housing agenda. The alternative approach, apart from the relentless negativity, was in evidence when they were in office. A total of 373 social and affordable homes were built over the entire period, surfing on the complacency of what had been delivered by previous governments, surfing on the effort of others—no effort, no engagement, no coordination, not even a housing minister over that period, but a laser focus on bludging off the Australian people.

The trick with negative politics—through you, President, to Senator Bragg—is that it only works if you're good at it.