Sarah Henderson Victoria, Liberal Party
4:47 pm
My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Gallagher. The Treasurer blocked public access to documents exchanged between the superannuation industry and the government back in 2022 and 2023 concerning payment structures between Housing Australia and investors. Can you please explain why Assemble, a developer majority owned by AustralianSuper and HESTA, is now the biggest beneficiary of round 1 of the HAFF, receiving over $2 billion of taxpayers' money?
Katy Gallagher ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service
4:48 pm
I thank Senator Henderson for the question—going back into the question archives to get that one from 2022, no less. On superannuation, there is no greater supporter of superannuation than the Treasurer, and, as the senator knows, all applications to the Housing Australia Future Fund and decisions about the fund and the first-round offers are all handled independently of government.
Sarah Henderson Victoria, Liberal Party
Minister, can you please tell the Senate what the super funds told the government to do when you were consulting with them on the creation of the Housing Australia Future Fund?
Katy Gallagher ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service
4:49 pm
There were a wide range of discussions with superannuation firms as part of the work that was done on housing in general. I can't summarise here in the chamber today what would be 3½ years of discussions across government, across departments and across relevant ministers.
Sarah Henderson Victoria, Liberal Party
Minister, community housing providers have expressed significant concerns about for-profit entities like big super funds being involved in social and affordable housing, with an anonymous provider telling the ABC:
If you can make a 6 per cent return out of social and affordable housing, you can't be managing your tenants very well.
Does the government believe the super funds are the best landlords for Australians?
Katy Gallagher ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service
4:50 pm
From my dealings with the community housing sector, they're pleased that they've got a government that actually cares about social housing, as opposed to those opposite, who did nothing and built no social housing for the entire decade that they were in government. We are using every lever available to us, be it working with superannuation funds, other investors, build to rent, help to buy—you name it—because we're serious about delivering housing to the people of Australia after a decade of neglect from those opposite.
Ellie Whiteaker WA, Australian Labor Party
I seek leave to ask a question on behalf of the people of my great home state of Western Australia regarding frontline service improvements.
Sue Lines President
Order! Senator Henderson, I am going to invite—
Because I've asked for respect in here.
Senator Henderson! I've asked for respect. I'm going to invite Senator Whiteaker to put her question again. You will wait until she's finished speaking.
Ellie Whiteaker WA, Australian Labor Party
I seek—
Opposition senators interjecting—
Ellie Whiteaker WA, Australian Labor Party
Can't ask a question but also can't seek leave—okay.
Ellie Whiteaker WA, Australian Labor Party
I seek leave to ask a question on behalf of the people of my home state of Western Australia regarding frontline service improvements.
Leave not granted.