Gladys Liu (Chisholm, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

) ( ): Here in Australia we take pride in our aspirations. We believe when we work hard we get the results we want. For many Australians this means reaching their dream of owning a house in our very own backyard. It's a dream that has been passed down through generations. It's never been an easy dream but it is a reality we all have the power to create. This dream to reality is something the Morrison government wholeheartedly supports.

Our suite of housing policies give hardworking Australians a hand up to buy a home to raise their families in. In this term, our government devised and implemented the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme, which gives an allocated number of first home buyers the freedom to purchase a home with a deposit of as little as five per cent. As a government, we understand that saving a 20 per cent deposit can be difficult and lengthy. Many first home buyers are in a position where their income could afford the mortgage repayments, but they don't have enough in the bank to pay down their 20 per cent deposit. Under the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme, Australians are given the freedom and flexibility to purchase a home.

On top of that, the Morrison government has expanded the first home super saver scheme from $30,000 to $50,000 for voluntary contributions that can be released for a first home. First home buyers are at their highest level since 2009, with more than 155,000 aspirational Australians achieving their dream and buying their first home since March 2021. First home buyers make up 41.5 per cent of new owner-occupier loans. This is considerably higher than the 10-year average of around 30 per cent. First home buyers will always have the support of the Morrison government, and it has been working.

We know not everyone is in a position to afford their first home. Some Australians are in precarious living situations or homeless, just like my colleague mentioned earlier. The Morrison government are there for those people too. We are there to support them as they get back on their feet. While the states and territories are responsible for delivering the services required in their jurisdictions, we have provided significant funding—$8.2 billion—to ensure they are well-equipped to handle homelessness. Within this, we are ensuring that people have access to affordable housing. Around $5.5 billion has been allocated to Commonwealth rent assistance.

The Morrison government is committed to spurring jobs growth while ensuring housing affordability. This is why our government has spearheaded the HomeBuilder policy. We want both to protect and to create jobs in the residential construction industry. We are incentivising Australians to build new homes, increasing the supply of housing available while also priming the construction industry for success in a time where other countries around the globe are lagging. The success of this package has been shown in the numbers. The package has driven more than $103 billion in economic stimulus, which has been benefited all Australians. Housing affordability has always been a priority of this government, and it is leading the way in this. Thank you.

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