Andrew Bragg NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness
2:00 pm
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Hon. Senators:
Honourable senators interjecting—
Andrew Bragg NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness
It's very loud in here, President.
Sue Lines President
Senator Bragg has the right to have his question heard in silence, particularly by those on my right. Senator Bragg, start again, please.
Andrew Bragg NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Page 294 of the Treasury portfolio budget statements states that the expected performance results of the Housing Australia Future Fund for 2025-26 are as follows: Housing Australia Future Fund, affordable, zero homes built; Housing Australia Future Fund, social, zero homes built; housing Australia fund facility, affordable, zero homes built—zero homes built. Can the minister confirm that the government's own budget papers show that the HAFF has not built a single new home in 2025-26?
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
2:02 pm
I'd make a couple of points in response to—
Sue Lines President
Order! Senator Cash, you will recall I gave Senator Bragg the opportunity to start his question again because there was a lot of disruption, and the same equally now applies to Minister Wong when she answers.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
I believe Minister Ayres yesterday spoke to the Senate about the performance of housing construction over the last few years, and I think he made the point that almost 660,000 homes have been built nationwide since Labor was elected. more than 6,000 homes are being completed with Commonwealth investment, and over 23,000 are in planning and construction phases. He also said—and this was the figure I was asking my staff to find, and I thank them for their assistance—that new home starts are up 26 per cent compared to a year ago.
Andrew Bragg NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness
On a point of order on relevance, President, the question was clearly about the Housing Australia Future Fund, not about the private economy.
Sue Lines President
I allowed you the point of order, but I'll just check if the minister has concluded. No. The minister is being relevant to the question, and I'll continue to listen carefully.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
Senator, I would make the point to you that you in fact opposed the HAFF—
Michaelia Cash WA, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
It doesn't matter; it still reads zero! It doesn't change the fact—
Sue Lines President
Order! I remind the Senate once again that the minister is entitled to be heard in silence.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
Not only did you oppose it, Senator, but I understand—it's the reporting—that Mr Taylor will commit to abolishing it; is that right? I find it interesting that you care about a fund that you opposed and that you intend to abolish. It's a very interesting position to take—to be critical when you are in fact going to abolish it. But what I would say—
Andrew Bragg NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness
I raise a point of order on relevance. The question was: has the HAFF built any houses in this financial year?
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
As I said, we have a $47 billion Homes for Australia plan. It includes the HAFF. It includes a number of other elements. What we have seen is an increase— (Time expired)
Andrew Bragg NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness
2:05 pm
I'll try this one. Given the government's own budget papers confirm zero new HAFF houses have been delivered in 2025-26, can the minister also confirm that the target of 30,000 new Housing Australia Future Fund homes is listed as 'at risk' in, again, the government's own budget papers?
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
I think we have been very upfront that we have a very ambitious target.
Michaelia Cash WA, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
Of zero.
Sue Lines President
Order, Senator Cash! I remind senators on my left that respect for silence during questions asked equally applies when the minister gets to answer them.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
We on this side do have an ambitious target for more houses. The difference between those of us on this side and those opposite, who might sneer and look down their noses, is that we actually care about building more social and affordable housing. We actually care about building more houses in Australia. You, Senator Bragg, are part of a party that does not believe that government has any role whatsoever in ensuring there is adequate housing in this country.
Andrew Bragg NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness
2:06 pm
The government's own budget papers show that 295,000 people came to this country in 2025-26 and that the HAFF has delivered zero houses. Minister, will the Prime Minister now admit that his $10 billion housing fund isn't just a failure but that it is a failure that is making the housing crisis worse?
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
2:07 pm
This is a government that is committed to building more houses. We are a government that is committed to investing in ensuring that more Australians have more access to more homes. This is a government that is bringing forward taxation changes which are all about bringing more first home buyers and more owner-occupiers into the market, all of which are opposed by you. If anybody wants to understand what the Liberal Party policy is on housing, no matter how much those opposite yell and shout—do you know what it is? 'You're on your own.' That's what they're saying to Australians: 'You're on your own. If you can find some way to tap into the bank of mum and dad, that's great, but, otherwise, you're on your own.' That's the difference between you and us. We actually believe that governments have a role in ensuring there are more houses for more people in this country. You should get with the program, Senator Bragg.