Andrew Bragg (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

President, congratulations on your re-election as our president. My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Can the minister please advise the Senate if the government will meet its housing target of 1.2 million new houses?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We do have an ambitious target, Senator Bragg, and we make no apology for that. We have an ambitious target because we want to add to housing supply. I know that those opposite forget that there are two sides to reducing housing prices. One is to provide assistance, as we are, to first home buyers through the Help to Buy scheme and so forth, but the other is to add to supply. So, obviously, this is an ambitious target, but Australia needs an ambitious target, and we need to all work together towards that ambitious target. We need to train more tradies, we need to cut red tape, we need to ensure that we build more local infrastructure, we need to make investments in social housing that—

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order in relation to relevance: that was a great explanation on your aspirations. Will you meet your housing target of 1.2 million homes?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Cash. I will draw the minister back to the question. Minister Wong?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I started with an answer to that. Yes, this is an ambitious target—

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, it is an ambitious target. But do you know what, Senator Bragg? We're going to keep working to meet it. How about you stop blocking it? How about you stop blocking it? Australia would have been a long way further down the path to building more homes if you hadn't teamed up with the Australian Greens to prevent passage of legislation that would have enabled more supply. I do find it remarkable, Senator Bragg, that you block one of the key measures to deliver more supply and then you come in here and say, 'You're not going to meet your target.' Really? Does anybody wonder why? Does anybody wonder why the Australian people so comprehensively rejected those kinds of tactics, Senator?

I invite you—you are someone for whom I have a great deal of regard. I think you're one of the much more intelligent people on that side. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Bragg, first supplementary?

Andrew Bragg (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Advice from the independent Department of the Treasury has stated that the government's housing target—and I quote—simply 'will not be met'. Minister, is the Treasury's advice incorrect?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator, I apologise; I'm sorry if I've done damage to your career by saying something nice about you! But my point was it would be good in this space if those opposite could perhaps jettison the obstruction for once. I think we all believe that more houses need to be built in this country. It is an ambitious target. We make no apology for an ambitious target. You need an ambitious target if you're actually going to make a measurable difference in terms of Australia's housing supply. I appreciate—I think we all appreciate—the level of ambition, but we are also committed—

Andrew Bragg (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order: the question was very clear. I'm seeking advice as to whether the Treasury's official advice is incorrect or not.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, and I believe the minister is being relevant. You were talking about the targets, and that's how the minister is responding. Minister Wong.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator, I've explained to you it is an ambitious target and that we make no apology for that.

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What about Treasury's advice?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm sure that you can spend a lot of time talking to Treasury about their advice and you can spend a lot of time trying to tell everyone that this is a dreadful idea. We want— (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm going to invite Senator Bragg to ask his second supplementary.

Andrew Bragg (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, maybe we'll just try and change tack a little bit. How many homes have been completed under the Housing Australia Future Fund agenda as at today?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Just to clarify, the senator is talking about the Housing Australia Future Fund which he blocked for two years? Is this right? I just wanted to be clear that what he is asking me for a progress report on is the fund he worked with Senator Faruqi and others to block for two years—or for a number of years. Isn't that interesting. Senator, what I would say to you is I don't have information, as at today, about the operations of the fund. I'm sure that someone will provide it, but what I will tell you is this: Australians know who wants to build houses, Australians know who wants to block the building of houses and they made their views on that very clear at the last election.