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

My question is to the minister representing—

Who? Geelong? No, we didn't win on the weekend, unfortunately, but thanks for pointing that out.

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

Order! It's your time you're wasting.

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

Well, there could be more. You never know.

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

Senator Bragg, I'm not giving you extra time, so ask your question.

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

Well, he started it. My question is to the—

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

No, don't respond.

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

Sorry? I think there's just been a reset.

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

Yes.

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

Can I start now? I was just being polite. I'm just trying to be polite.

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

With due respect, Senator Bragg, you are anything but polite at the moment. Please start your question.

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

My apologies, President. My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Given the latest backflips by this government on tax policy, can you please update the Senate on whether there still will be 35,000 fewer homes as a result of these tax hikes on housing, and will rents still go up as outlined in your budget papers?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) | Link to this | Hansard source

As I have said many times to Senator Bragg, he knows that the budget papers indicated that, when you take into account all that the government is doing, there will be an increased number of homes over the decade. I would make the point to you that we on this side of the chamber believe that government has a role in contributing to ensuring more houses are built in this country. Under your government, I think there were only some 300-odd houses that were built with the support of government for social and affordable housing over a decade.

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

Senator Bragg?

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

My point of order is on relevance. Will there still be 35,000 fewer homes and higher rents as a result of this budget?

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

Thank you. Senator Bragg. The minister is being relevant, and I'll continue to listen carefully.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) | Link to this | Hansard source

I actually responded to that in the first answer. As I explained, as a whole we will see an increase in the supply of housing over the next decade if you look at all of the budget measures. What we will see, importantly, in terms of composition is an extra 75,000 first home buyers. So this is a budget which, despite Senator Bragg's best effort, is a pro-supply budget. This is the budget which ensures that negative gearing will still be available for new builds, and new builds will have a choice of CPI indexation or 50 per cent discount for capital gains. What I would say to you, Senator Bragg, is that we know housing affordability is a problem that is decades in the making, and we are throwing everything at it. We are throwing everything at it, and we are building on what we have done over the last four years. We are levelling the playing field for first homebuyers, we are building more infrastructure, we are cutting red tape, and we are approving more homes. That is what we are doing. All you are doing is criticising, and you are part of a party that delivered nothing when it comes to housing support.

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

Senator Bragg, first supplementary?

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

Very good, very good. The Prime Minister said on 18 June:

The definition of new builds and housing investment exemptions will be moved into primary legislation in a future tranche of tax reform legislation.

Does this mean that your new taxes bill before the Senate will define what a new build is?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) | Link to this | Hansard source

Well, Senator, I think you spent quite a few hours this morning ensuring we didn't get to the tax bills, but the budget papers—

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

The NDIS is important.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) | Link to this | Hansard source

Well, we know what your position on the NDIS is, but fair enough. We've now started the tax legislation. We've been clear about what it—

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Order! Order across the chamber. Minister Wong, please continue.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) | Link to this | Hansard source

I understand that we have said we intend to remove ministerial discretion in relation to these definitions to provide as much certainty as possible. I understand that there has been advice that legislation will be introduced later this year following consultation. However, if you look at the budget papers, Senator Bragg, as I was indicating to you, the core elements of what constitutes a new build for the purposes of the tax changes were set out in the budget papers.

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

Senator Bragg, second supplementary?

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

Are you surprised home building has collapsed by 30,000 houses a year under your government given this shambles of a tax policy?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) | Link to this | Hansard source

Over 660,000 homes have been built since we were elected. In fact, new home build starts are up now. They are 26 per cent higher than a year ago. Approvals are up three years in a row and there are more first homebuyers under Labor than there were under the Liberal Party. I would make the point—I know you believe your job is to constantly talk down the market, talk down what is happening to housing. We recognise there is a problem with housing supply in this country. We recognise something has to be done about it, and we know that the answers are not simple, which is why we are throwing everything at it. Whether it comes to additional funding or changes to planning and changes to tax laws, it is all about ensuring we get more housing supply in this country and more people into the housing market.