Tyron Whitten (WA, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Housing, Senator Ayres. Does Labor accept that immigration levels have a significant impact on house prices and rental prices?

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

Senator, you might pay some attention to what's actually going on in the economy in terms of immigration and in terms of housing. The truth is that net overseas migration has declined more than 40 per cent from the post-COVID peak in 2022-23. That's what this government has delivered not by inflammatory, careless, reckless, deliberately offensive rhetoric in here but by the hard work of making sure that Australia's immigration settings and the way the government delivers them meet Australia's national interest.

We're building more homes for Australians: 55,000 social and affordable homes, 100,000 homes just for first home buyers—

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

How many are finished?

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

I'll take the interjection. He's a bit sparkier this week; he's getting there. It's good to see everybody's chin up a little bit over there! The truth, Senator Bragg, in terms of the delivery of the government's housing program is you were sharply critical at the beginning and pointed to the numbers on day 1, day 2 and day 3. Senator, the problem with your argument is the numbers keep going up as more and more and more homes are being built every day. Critically, for young Australians who struggle to get a purchase in the housing market, the five per cent home deposit that we've made available for them is changing the lives of young Australians trying to get into a house.

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

Senator Whitten, first supplementary?

Tyron Whitten (WA, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A recent report by the FoundIt property research group suggests that returning to pre-pandemic levels of immigration would provide immediate relief for housing prices. This is with only modest cuts, not the massive cuts that are required. However, IPA data shows record net long-term arrivals of 480,520 for 2025. Why doesn't Labor take action on mass immigration to provide immediate relief to suffering Australians?

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

I can't say that I'm familiar with the FoundIt organisation, or whatever they are. Senator, what I can I tell you is that we are delivering the country's biggest ever comprehensive effort in home building in our history. We're doing things. One Nation say they want to get more Australians into homes. That's what they say. But One Nation abstained from voting on the Housing Australia Future Fund Bill 2023 and voted no, with their friends in the Liberals, on the Help to Buy Bill 2023. So we are doing, and you are getting in the way. If you cared the slightest bit about the prospects of young Australians trying to get into a home, you would support the government's agenda, not vote with your coalition partners in the Liberal Party and the National Party to get in the way of that national achievement.

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

Senator Whitten, second supplementary?

Tyron Whitten (WA, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Young Australians, families and the elderly have all been punished by Labor's destructive mass immigration policy. They've been locked out of housing, watching prices spiral out of control under massive demand pressure. And what do we get from Labor? Five per cent housing deposits driving up demand. No doubt there are more taxes coming in the budget, to kill supply—and, of course, more mass immigration. Why does Labor refuse to address housing demand and to bring immigration under control?

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

It's an interesting term you use. I note that Senator Scarr correctly pointed out that that term is a deliberate effort by extremist politicians to create fear and apprehension in the community.

What has really happened here? Well, the government is properly managing the migration system in the interests of Australians. The government is building homes and is engaged with the task of building homes for Australians. We're operating in the national interest, in the interests of low- and middle-income Australians in particular, to give access to the housing market. One Nation, the Liberals and the Nationals are doing their best to undermine that national effort. How more un-Australian could you be than trying to stop ordinary Australians getting into a home? There is such an enormous difference between what One Nation say and what they do when they vote with their coalition partners in the Liberal Party every time. (Time expired)

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

I think the chamber is aware that Senator Babet has given his question to Senator Roberts.