Tony Sheldon (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Housing, Senator Ayres. In its first term, the Albanese Labor government prioritised building more homes.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Tony Sheldon (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

They don't want to hear it, do they? More than 500,000 homes have been built nationwide since Labor was elected in May 2022. This sits alongside 'making it easier to buy' and 'making it better to rent' as one of the pillars of the government's $43 billion housing plan. Why is it necessary for the government to increase the supply of housing?

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

I'm very grateful to Senator Sheldon for that question, although I've been hoping for the whole fortnight that Senator Sharma would ask me the question that he just directed towards Senator Gallagher, because, I have to say, his opinion piece in the Financial Review

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

Senator Ruston, a point of order?

Honourable senators interjecting—

Order! I'm waiting. Order!

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A point of order on relevance—I think the minister perhaps should be brought back to the question.

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

Thank you, Senator Ruston. Minister Ayres, I am going to direct you back to the question.

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

It was just one little joke! I really am grateful for this question, though. We have been absolutely focused as a government on delivering new homes and the homes that Australians need—28,000 homes under construction or in planning now. That contrasts with what happened under the previous government, under their program—373 homes over a decade. The truth is that Australians know, when they build a home, it takes time to build a home. You've got to work your way through it. Do you know who agrees with us about housing supply?

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Minister Ayres, please resume your seat. Those on my left might find this amusing; I do not. It is my job to keep order in this chamber, and you are making it incredibly difficult. If you can't sit in silence, leave the chamber. Minister Ayres.

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

Do you know who agrees with us? It's Senator Bragg, whom Senator Cash referred to yesterday as 'Braggie'! I don't know whether it's Braggie with an i-e or Braggy with a y at the end.

Opposition senators interjecting—

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order, you'd think the minister might be able to answer—

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

Just get to the point of order, Senator Ruston.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

his own dixer. He's not being relevant to his own question.

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

Senator Ruston, there is an incredible amount of comment from the opposition side, and, as you are well aware, the minister can take those comments. I would like the question to be answered. I'm sure you would as well. That requires all of you on the opposition benches not to interject. Minister Ayres.

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

He said:

We need to find a way to unlock supply, otherwise we're going to make the problem worse.

That was his view a few months ago—old Braggie. We don't call him Braggie over here.

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

Senator Ayres—

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

We call him 'Home Blokka'. That's what this guy is all about.

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

Senator Ayres!

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

That's b-l-o-k-k-a—Home Blokka!

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

Senator Ayres, I am going to ask you to withdraw.

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

I withdraw.

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

Please continue.

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

Why are we working so hard with the states, with developers, with local government and with investors to deal with the questions of supply? It's because, in substance, it matters because it's about actually doing things. (Time expired)

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

Senator Sheldon, first supplementary?

Tony Sheldon (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Industry expects the Albanese Labor government's build-to-rent legislation will deliver 80,000 new rental properties. What impact will this policy have on renters and Australians hoping to buy a home?

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

Eighty thousand new, high-quality homes, just for renters; thousands of affordable tenancies with caps on rent—access to secure, long-term rentals will change the lives of hundreds of thousands of Australians. Men and women; little kids—lives will be changed. How do Senator Bragg and the coalition describe this life-changing nation-building scheme? 'A nightmare,' he says. 'A foreign investor tax cut.' Now the Liberal Party of Australia is opposed to foreign investment. What on Earth is going on? What on Earth is going on in terms of ideological consistency over there if you're opposed to investment in housing, in development, in building projects and in developing Australian construction projects? You have entirely lost your way. The same senator who said in his first speech that our tax system and broader policy settings— (Time expired)

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

Senator Sheldon, second supplementary?

Tony Sheldon (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Albanese Labor government has a wide range of policies to increase housing supply. What progress has the government made on its commitment to making sure all Australians have access to safe and secure housing?

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

Everybody deserves a decent home. What Senator Bragg said in his first speech was:

Our tax system and broader policy settings must encourage foreign investment …

He meant it then; he doesn't mean it now. It's a symbol of the sort of inconsistency and hyperpartisanship of this show.

We have got straight to work from our first term in government. We took the Commonwealth from being a negligent bystander under the previous government to a government with the boldest and most ambitious housing program since the Second World War. In three years, we've invested $43 billion in housing, compared to just $5 billion in the previous long, turgid decade of negligence and absolute disengagement from building new homes for Australians.

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

I ask that further questions be placed on notice.