Josh Dolega (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate take note of the statement.

It's great to be able to stand today and talk about housing once again, following question time and following Senator Chisholm's tabling of the minister's statement. On 1 October, more Australians than ever before will be able to afford to buy their first home with just a five per cent deposit. For decades, owning a home has been part of what we call the 'great Australian dream'. It's more than just bricks and mortar, though. It's about security, stability and the deep comfort of knowing you have a place to truly call your own.

A home is the foundation where our families grow, memories are made and futures are built. It's about the simple joys: putting a hook in the world to hang your favourite artwork or pictures without asking for permission; painting your walls any colour that you like; never submitting another rental application ever again, hopefully; skipping rental inspections and the stress of last-minute cleaning—I've been guilty of that one in my past as well—avoiding unexpected rent hikes; staying put when landlords decide to sell; and having as many pets as you want without needing approval. It's also about having the freedom to decorate your space however you want.

But for too many Australians, especially young people, renters, and families doing it tough, that dream has felt out of reach for far too long. We've all heard the stories. We all know people who have struggled to get into the housing market. It's just been out of reach. Parents are worried that their kids won't have the same opportunities that they did. I was really fortunate when I was 18; I could buy my first home. It was $174,000 for a little unit in Spreyton. Now that unit would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. It's incredible.

For far too long the Commonwealth government wasn't stepping up to the task of helping people to get into homes. The heavy lifting was done by others. Under the last 10 years of the coalition government, for most of the time there wasn't even a housing minister. We often refer to it on this side as the last decade of neglect. There were just 373 social and affordable houses built during that decade. The lack of foresight and action is disappointing, to say the least, and it's failed young people.

Under the federal Labor government things have changed. We've made housing a national priority by appointing a fantastic minister for housing who cares. We've created an envoy for social housing and homelessness. We're committed to tackling the housing crisis from every angle. We've got bold, ambitious action that hasn't been seen since the postwar action, and we're already seeing results. Over 180,000 Australians have bought their first home through our five per cent deposit program. That's 180,000 dreams that have come true. One million households have received a 45 per cent increase in rent assistance. We've built 500,000 homes since coming to office, with new housing approvals up 30 per cent and construction costs stabilising. From 1 October, a first home buyer will be able to buy a $844,000 home—which is the median house price nationally—with just a $42,000 deposit. On the government's figures, they could save up to eight years in time needed to get together their deposit and avoid about $34,000 in lenders mortgage insurance. The five per cent deposit scheme will cut years off the time that Australians require to save for a deposit and will save people tens of thousands of dollars in mortgage insurance.

We're backing in unequivocally and unashamedly. We know housing is hard, but our $43 billion housing agenda is focused on making things better and has three big goals: building more homes, making it better to rent and making it easier to buy. This term we're going even further. We've got the task and we're on track. We're building 55,000 social and affordable homes and 100,000 homes for first home buyers. We're working towards a bold national goal of 1.2 million homes in five years. We're helping renters too, supporting the construction of thousands more rental homes and lifting rental standards, in partnerships with the states. We're making it easier to buy with the Help to Buy scheme, our first national shared equity scheme, and continuing that first home deposit guarantee for every first home buyer. We know that when the shared equity schemes have been run by the states they've been welcomed and taken up by homebuyers.

This is what it looks like when a government backs in its people. If you're a young person wondering if you will ever own a home, know that we hear you and we're fighting for you. If you're a renter struggling, we're going to back you. If you're a parent or grandparent hoping your children or grandchildren will have the same opportunities we did, we're making that possible. It's a turning point and it's just the beginning.

From Tasmania's perspective, it's going to make a huge difference to Tasmanians. It's going to mean that people who are struggling just to save to pay lenders mortgage insurance—most people don't even understand what it goes towards; it feels like they're just giving the banks money. We're going to get rid of that for first home buyers. It's going to make a hell of difference for Tasmanians.