Carol Brown (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 and making housing fairer have been key focuses of the Albanese Labor government. Yesterday, the government announced further decisive action to help more Australians into homeownership. Minister, how will the measures in the budget help more Australians buy their own home, and what will be the impact on housing supply?

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

Thank you very much, Senator Brown. This budget is landmark Labor reform. This is a government that, in this budget, isn't doing the easy or convenient thing. We are doing the right thing for Australians, particularly young Australians, by getting more Australians into their own homes. Too many young Australians know that the system is weighted against them. We have made decisions in this budget to fix up those problems. Those opposite have said that they're going to take that away from young Australians. They're going to take those opportunities away from young Australians—

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Jack's paying more tax under you!

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

Don't you worry about Jack's tax; I'd worry about Jane's tax if I were you.

That is why we are levelling the playing field for young Australians in this budget. The changes to the capital gains tax and negative gearing remove that unfair disadvantage. That's what they do. That's what people want out of their parliaments and their governments—to act in their interests. That inequity is something that Australian first home buyers, particularly young people, have faced for far too long. Carve-outs in the tax changes for new homes will drive housing investment towards new supply. I would have thought that's something that the coalition would have understood. We're investing a further $2 billion in infrastructure, along with our friends in the states, to unlock tens of thousands of new homes. That's what that will do—pipes, pavements and powerlines to power the homes of the future.

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

I'm waiting for silence. The running commentary, particularly of those on the front bench on my left, at the end, needs to stop. Senator Brown, first supplementary?

Carol Brown (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Over the last four years, the Albanese Labor government has prioritised building more homes, with a particular focus on social and affordable homes. Minister, what progress has the government made in delivering more homes, and how does greater housing supply benefit both homebuyers and renters?

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

Just a moment, Minister Ayres. Senator Bragg, you are one of the people I was referring to, and I expect you to listen in silence. If you can't, I invite you to leave the chamber.

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

I'd prefer he stayed for all of this, President, if he could—he might pick up on a few things! More than anybody else, Senator Bragg has hampered and undermined the government's efforts to build new homes. Despite his efforts, leading the Liberals on this issue into a cul-de-sac—

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

Senator Bragg, you might think it's humorous, but I have just called you to order. I've invited you to leave the chamber. You are not in a debate with me and you are not in a debate with the minister. This is question time.

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

I'm trying to help.

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

Senator Bragg, I will name you if you keep disrespecting my direction, and my direction is that you sit in silence or you leave the chamber. That's the choice you have.

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

I shouldn't have wound him up. The truth is more than 660,000 homes have been built since we came to office. Housing starts are up 26 per cent since last year.

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

What about completions?

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

Well, I'll give you a tip. In order to complete a house, you've got to start the house. That's the order of the process; that's the way it works. Completions are up too. We're delivering 55,000 affordable new homes under those programs, with more than 6,000 of those already built. (Time expired)

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

Senator Brown, a second supplementary?

Carol Brown (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Albanese Labor government is committed to making housing fairer, particularly for renters and people struggling to buy their first home. What are some alternative views in the community about housing policy?

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

We know all about Senator Bragg and his colleagues' views. They're not a surprise—disappointing but not a surprise. What surprised me is how much the One Nation party once again just sound like the poor, old Liberals.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You sound like the Greens!

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

Order!

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

It's that kind of thinking, Senator Cash, that's got you into the strife that you're in now. Who needs the Liberals when you have One Nation? Australian voters, certainly in Farrer, have reached the conclusion that they don't need the Liberal Party. At least Senator Canavan was down there, campaigning in Farrer. I saw him. He was in his flannel shirt.

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Minister Ayres.

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

I'll give you a tip, Senator Canavan.

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

Minister Ayres!

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

You don't iron the flannel shirt; you just put it on.

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

Minister Ayres, resume your seat!

Opposition senators interjecting—

Order, Senator Canavan. Order! Please continue, Minister.

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

He is 'Senator Flanavan'. You don't iron the flannel shirts before you pose for the picture in the caravan park.