Tony Sheldon NSW, Australian Labor Party
2:58 pm
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.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Senators:
Opposition senators interjecting—
Tony Sheldon NSW, Australian Labor Party
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
2:59 pm
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
Anne Ruston SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care
A point of order on relevance—I think the minister perhaps should be brought back to the question.
Sue Lines President
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
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
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
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
On a point of order, you'd think the minister might be able to answer—
Anne Ruston SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care
his own dixer. He's not being relevant to his own question.
Sue Lines President
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
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.
Tim Ayres NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation
We call him 'Home Blokka'. That's what this guy is all about.
Tim Ayres NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation
That's b-l-o-k-k-a—Home Blokka!
Tim Ayres NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation
I withdraw.
Tim Ayres NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation
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)
Tony Sheldon NSW, Australian Labor Party
3:03 pm
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
3:04 pm
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)
Tony Sheldon NSW, Australian Labor Party
3:05 pm
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
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
I ask that further questions be placed on notice.