Josh Dolega (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Housing, Senator Ayres. Building more homes is a priority for the Albanese Labor government. Can the minister outline the improvement in housing supply in the latest ABS figures, which show that, in June 11, total dwellings approved rose by 11.9 per cent and, in the March quarter, total dwellings commenced rose by 11.7 per cent? What measures has the government taken to increase housing supply?

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

I thank Senator Dolega for that question. He's right. It's good to see somebody paying attention to the evidence base here. In June, total dwellings approved rose to 11.9 per cent over the month and 27.4 per cent over the year. Total dwellings commenced rose 11.7 per cent over the March quarter and 17.3 per cent over the year. The value of construction work rose three per cent over the June quarter and 4.8 per cent over the year. A total of 500,000 homes have been built since this government came to office. Construction costs have stabilised. We've got 28,000 social and affordable homes, supported by this government, under construction or planned. Under the previous government, over the course of a decade, 373 is all that was achieved.

We have a $43 billion housing agenda. The alternative approach, apart from the relentless negativity, was in evidence when they were in office. A total of 373 social and affordable homes were built over the entire period, surfing on the complacency of what had been delivered by previous governments, surfing on the effort of others—no effort, no engagement, no coordination, not even a housing minister over that period, but a laser focus on bludging off the Australian people.

The trick with negative politics—through you, President, to Senator Bragg—is that it only works if you're good at it.

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

Senator Dolega, first supplementary?

Josh Dolega (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Making it easier—

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

Is that it?

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

Order! Senator McKenzie! Senator Dolega, please start again.

Josh Dolega (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Making it easier for Australia to buy their first home is also a priority for the Albanese Labor government. This week, the government announced that the five per cent scheme would expand to cover all first home buyers from 1 October—three months ahead of schedule. What impact will this have on Australians trying to buy their first homes?

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

Just put yourself in the shoes of those young Australians who are facing year after year after year of trying to save for a deposit. This government has delivered for them—consistent with their election commitment—an even better proposition.

Bringing forward five per cent home deposits for many young Australians brings for them, in a practical and real way, some hope of being able to purchase a home and to save a deposit. For some of them that means a decade less of savings paying somebody else's mortgage. What do we have from Senator Bragg? Whingeing and negativity. He's trying to find any reason why young Australians should be denied this opportunity. He said yesterday that the children of billionaires will be getting access to this. I will give you a tip: if you're a billionaire's son or daughter and you're worried about a five or 20 per cent deposit from the old man— (Time expired)

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

Senator Dolega, second supplementary?

Josh Dolega (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Policies that increase the housing supply and make it easier for Australians to buy their first home are in the national interest. They help make access to the housing market fairer and ensure it works for all Australians. What challenges does the Albanese Labor government face in implementing our agenda?

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

Of course it's in the national interest for Australians to have an opportunity to buy a home, for first home buyers to have the opportunity to buy a home and for all of the elements of our policy to be engaged. I've listened to the sneering from those opposite about the five per cent home deposit. I have seen the sneering about renters, too. There is some consistency, isn't there, with what a former leader of the Liberal Party said about renters in Australia? John Hewson said, 'You can always tell the renters' houses because they are less tidy out the front.' That attitude is clearly consistent with Senator Bragg's sneering at renters, sneering at first home buyers and sneering at the efforts of this government to mobilise the Australian construction sector and the states and territories to build more homes for Australians at an affordable level. (Time expired)