Charlotte Walker (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I note that this is not my first speech. My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Housing is an issue that affects every single Australian. In its first term, the Albanese Labor government took important steps to tackle the housing crisis we inherited. How, in our second term, is the government continuing to support more Australians into homeownership?

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

I thank Senator Walker for that question and for her advocacy for young Australians. We are so very proud to have you here in the Senate with us. You are right; Australians have been waiting for progress on housing for far too long, and for 10 years those opposite did nothing while the housing crisis got worse. They didn't just do nothing; they didn't even have a housing minister in the cabinet for most of that decade.

But those on this side take this issue seriously because we know that housing costs are the source of anxiety for so many Australian family budgets. We know that the pressure of housing costs make it not only harder to get ahead but even harder to plan for the future. That's why this side of politics is investing $43 billion to build more houses and to increase supply. We are making progress. Under Labor, around half a million new homes have been built around the country. In this term, we are being even more ambitious, moving even faster to deliver more help to more Australians. The Prime Minister announced this morning that we would fast-track our election commitment to give all first home buyers access to five per cent deposits. The government will guarantee a portion of a first home buyer's home loan from 1 October 2025 so they can buy a home with a five per cent deposit and not pay for mortgage insurance, because those of us on this side want more Australians to buy their own home sooner, and with a lower deposit. Not only that; we are rolling out our Help to Buy shared equity scheme later this year for Australians on low and moderate incomes so more Australians can purchase a home with a lower deposit and a smaller mortgage, something Australians support but, clearly, those opposite do not.

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

Senator Walker, first supplementary?

Charlotte Walker (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It was great to see the announcement this morning that the Albanese Labor government is fast-tracking its five per cent deposit policy. Given the scale of the challenges in housing, it is important that the government's responses address multiple parts of the problem. What other measures is the government delivering to improve access to housing?

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

Thank you, Senator Walker. You're right: deposits aren't the only challenge we, and particularly young Australians, face in housing, and, for 40 years, this country hasn't been building enough houses. Lack of supply is a serious challenge and one that has to continue to be addressed. That's why this government is delivering 55,000 social and affordable homes, working with the states and territories, investing $54 million to manufacture more homes more quickly and making it easier for builders across the country to build more homes more quickly by pausing and streamlining the National Construction Code and turbocharging environmental approvals to unlock thousands more homes. That is all in contrast to those opposite, who continue to interject and who seem to believe that it's only those who can really afford a house who should get one and that government doesn't have a role in trying to improve affordability by investing in supply. That is the position of the opposition. (Time expired)

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

Senator Walker, second supplementary?

Charlotte Walker (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

How is the Albanese Labor government working to overcome opposition to building more homes and delivering on its commitment to build more houses for more Australians?

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

Certainly, one thing about the opposition is that they don't learn from an election. They went to the last election trying to block housing supply improvements, having blocked the Housing Australia Future Fund and in fact pledging to scrap it. The build-to-rent laws would support the construction of around 80,000 new homes to rent. This policy will encourage investment, it will encourage construction, and it will increase supply—more houses and more rentals—but Senator Bragg and the opposition have decided they want to block plans to build more homes. This is what they want. This is the hill on which they choose to make their stand: 'We want to stop more houses being built.' They're standing in the way of 80,000 more homes for Australians, and they believe they're a responsible party of government.

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

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. It's not the question you think it might be. After overseeing an historic rise in red tape in the housing sector during its first term, the government has now decided to copy the coalition's policy of freezing the National Construction Code. The question is: why did Labor say this was a bad idea during the recent election but now says it's a good idea?

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

Senator, I know that it's something that you probably focus on a lot, but do you know what we're focused on? We're focused on delivering all of the policies which will enable more houses to be built and will ensure that we deal with the supply side of housing affordability. That includes our policy announcement on the construction code, which from memory was for a shorter period than you indicated, because obviously there are also other issues which have to be addressed. It is part of a suite of policies which are about more houses, which you're opposed to.

So, if you want to come in here and, frankly, bleat about, 'Well, we had something to say at the last election'—do you know what else you had to say at the last election? 'We're going to abolish the HAFF.' That's what else you had to say at the last election. You wanted to make it very clear to young Australians: 'Actually, we, the coalition—we, the Liberal Party of Australia—are actually against more homes for Australians.' That is the policy you took to the last election. So, Senator Bragg, if you're in the business of actually wanting to reshape your policies from the last election, I would invite you to consider this: Australians rejected your opposition to more houses. So maybe you should discontinue the current position you have, which is to stand in the way of 80,000 more houses for Australians.

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

Minister, precisely what pieces of red tape will Labor cut from the 2022 National Construction Code in your proposed 2025 iteration?

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

I am advised that the NCC 2022 will continue to be adopted, including seven-star energy efficiency, better insulation, higher quality glazing, smarter floor plans and liveable housing provisions. I am advised that final advice on the 2025 NCC from the Australian Building Codes Board in the coming weeks will be provided. Following that, ministers will meet to discuss a final position. I'm also advised that that code has been consulted on for more than a year. I'm sure that Senator Ayres has way more information than I on this detail, and I'm grateful to him for providing me with that brief via Senator Gallagher.

But I would make a broader point: your party has been determinedly against every additional supply measure that we have put forward. Australians firmly rejected that. You should explain to them why you have not— (Time expired)

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

Senator Bragg, second supplementary?

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

I do appreciate that additional information. The question now is: when will those changes be made to the 2022 code or the 2025 iteration and legislated by the states as is required under the code? The question is: when will it be done?

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

Unsurprisingly, I'm sure that Senator Ayres, the Minister representing the Minister for Housing, might be able to provide you with a bit more information on that detail, but we are determined to proceed with this in a way that not only is sensible but also enables more houses to be built. I again return to the fundamental proposition: you are proposing to your party that you will continue to oppose additional supply. I know that is difficult to take—

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

A point of order on relevance. It was quite a specific question about when the changes will be made by the state parliaments as is required under this code.

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

Yes, and there were others—when changes will be made, and you also referred to legislation. The minister is being relevant to the question. Thank you, Senator Bragg.

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

I did respond to that in the first point. The point I would also make is that the coalition policy at the last election was freezing every single safety and quality standard in the NCC for a decade—not a position that was supported by most housing industry peaks or by the states. In relation to that, I have indicated to you that we will seek further information. But I would again make the point, Senator Bragg, that you and the coalition have stood against every housing supply measure that this government has put forward. So no-one in Australia takes you seriously when it comes to— (Time expired)

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Senator Steele-John, we will wait for the chamber to come to order.