Julie Collins (Franklin, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Small Business) Share this | Hansard source

Indeed, we've already unlocked up to $575 million to immediately invest in social and affordable housing, and these projects are underway today. I've already made announcements around the country about some of these projects—of course, the 30,000 social and affordable homes that will come from the Housing Australia Future Fund, and then, on top of that, the National Housing Accord, which we agreed between state and federal governments and announced in the last budget. Of course, our 30,000 is on top of what the states and territories are already doing. The government's $350 million will, in addition, mean 10,000 additional homes which will be added to by the states and territories with another 10,000 affordable homes. And, of course, there's the aspiration of the accord for one million homes right across the country over the five years.

We've also brought forward our Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee. That has already helped 1,700 Australians in regional Australia into their first homes. Our government equity scheme, Help to Buy, will be coming out. And, of course, our National Housing Supply and Affordability Council, which we introduced into parliament today, will be working with all the other tiers of government to provide independent advice about how we get more homes on the ground more quickly right across the country.

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