Barbara Pocock (SA, Australian Greens) | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is for the Minister representing the Minister for Housing, Senator Ayres. This morning at the ACTU's launch of its housing crisis plan, I heard from Lou, a nurse of 52 years, now 69, who walked away from her violent marriage with nothing. She was stalked as she slept on couches, in cars and in caravans. She's had to move further and further away from her family in Sydney, trying to find secure housing. She now pays rent that is worth more than half the pension and rent assistance combined. Rents are rising so much faster than Lou's wage. This morning she said: 'I'm unable to see a future. I feel broken and without hope.' This is a highly skilled, essential union worker who serves us every day. Your government has taken no action on the rental crisis by, for example, freezing or capping rents. What do you say to Lou, whose next rent increase may well put her back in her car?

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

Thanks to Senator Pocock for that question. This is a government that has a bigger agenda in housing than any previous government. This is a government that is focused on the task of not just building and supporting the construction of homes in the private economy but delivering 55,000 social and affordable rental homes, 100,000 homes referred for first home buyers, and access to cheaper deposits for the workers that you point to. I do wonder, if you're so concerned about the position of people like the worker that you refer to, where were you?

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

Minister Ayres, direct your answers to me, please.

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

Where was she when it came to the Housing Affordability Future Fund legislation in this parliament? The truth of that and the answer to that is that the Greens political party was with One Nation and the Nationals and the poor old Liberals, holding up progress once again.

It is one thing for Senator Shoebridge to use the hyperbolic, bloviating rhetoric that he does—

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

Order! Senator Ayres, please resume your seat.

Senator McKim, which part of 'Order!' doesn't apply to you? Order across the chamber.

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

I mean, I'm always happy to be corrected on my grammar by the Liberals, that's for sure. But it's one thing to criticise; it's another thing to just use wild rhetoric and get so wound up in your own ideology and your own partisan self-interest that you find yourselves blocking the building of homes with One Nation and the Nationals and the Liberals. You have truly lost your way as what passed for a suburban political force. (Time expired)

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

I'm waiting for silence in the chamber.

Senator Shoebridge, again, asking for silence somehow passes you by, does it? Come to order. Senator Pocock, first supplementary?

Barbara Pocock (SA, Australian Greens) | Link to this | Hansard source

I think, Minister, they are lines that will be of no comfort whatsoever to Lou and the one-third of Australians who are out there today listening to the real estate gals calling for increases in rents up to 30 per cent. Rents have gone up 23 per cent in the last five years when real wages under your government, despite figures we heard earlier, fell by five per cent in real terms. Renters don't have a buffer. They are the buffer for landlords and investors. (Time expired)

Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

Give us some bloviating, Tim!

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

You can look forward to plenty more. I would just say that what renters can look forward to from the Greens political party is words, slogans and posts on social media—sometimes associating themselves with the achievements of this government—saying, 'We did it.' But it's mostly hyperbolic, partisan criticism that has no foundation in reality. What they can look forward to from this government is effort, reform—tax reform too—practical assistance and more homes.

Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

But not more housing.

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

I hear the interjection. I agree with you, Senator Colbeck—more homes. They can look forward to more homes, more supply and more action from a government that is committed to building more homes, building them more cheaply and providing more young Australians, in particular, access to the housing market.

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

Senator Pocock, second supplementary?

Barbara Pocock (SA, Australian Greens) | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, we know rent caps work. Look at the ACT. Rent caps there have kept rents down. Minister, why won't your government work with the states to do anything to help renters facing unlimited rent increases when we have a living, breathing, success story in the ACT? Why do you refuse to work with the states and to help renters and, instead, back in rich landlords and unlimited rent increases, which are throwing hardworking union members like Lou into despair?

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

What we do is not use people as props. What we do is support the construction of new housing. The evidence in relation to rent caps is very strong. What it does is hold back construction of new homes. It's not an effective measure. It's an effective slogan but not an effective measure, in policy terms, for delivering real homes for people. That is the activity that this government has set about doing, with $47 billion in measures for home construction in the private market, through to social and affordable housing. I know that doesn't suit the Greens political party's hyperventilating rhetoric.

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

Senator Wong, on a point of order?

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

I just wonder if it would be possible for Senator Shoebridge to at least pause in his interjections.

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Order!

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

You can't help yourself. I've known lots of blokes like you—you and George Brandis.

He's the Senate genius!

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

Minister Wong, order!

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

One does wonder how he continues to do it. Senator Shoebridge breathes through his ears. (Time expired)