Carol Brown (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Well, if you'd listened to my speech, Senator Duniam, then you'd actually know the answer to that. But I'll tell you what: it wasn't done with any help from you or the opposition, because all you do is block and delay. You've blocked and delayed every single housing measure in this last term of parliament. Let's hope that changes. But let's compare this to what those opposite did over their decade in office. I'm sure those in the opposition won't want to hear this, but they built just 373 social and affordable homes. They didn't even bother to appoint a housing minister for most of that time. The silence says everything over there; they're not interrupting now! Housing was simply not a priority for them.

In Tasmania, the consequences of that neglect are plain to see. Hobart remains one of the least affordable rental markets in the country. Families are squeezed out. Waiting lists for social housing are far too long. Builders and tradies tell me projects are being held up. This did not happen overnight; it happened because of nine long years of Liberal neglect. We also recognise that, while we're building more homes, families need help now. That is why we've increased Commonwealth rent assistance by almost 50 per cent, providing direct support to more than one million households. This is the biggest boost in 30 years. We're helping people with the cost of rent while we focus on the long-term fix of building more homes. Labor governments have always been nation-builders. Just as Labor once built the homes that gave a generation stability— (Time expired)