Maria Vamvakinou (Calwell, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Those opposite obviously can't stand on their own record on tackling housing supply, because there is no record worthy of speaking to, nor was there ever a real plan for the future. You'd be forgiven for thinking they weren't governing for nearly a decade. No wonder they can't formulate any policy that actually responds to issues, because they're always hiding behind an acronym, a bogeyman or false facts—as the member for Parramatta so eloquently revealed—rather than putting forward policy or a positive plan. We're building; they're blocking. If you want to know what that building looks like, the Albanese Labor government is bringing to the table real dollars, driving real change and building more homes for Australians like those in my electorate. Those homes in my electorate form part of an ambitious housing agenda which includes the delivery of 30,000 social and affordable homes through our Housing Australia Future Fund. That's shovels in the ground and roofs over more people's heads.

Just one example of the Albanese Labor government's building of more homes is the creation of a blueprint for the long-term renewal of the Banksia Gardens neighbourhood in Broadmeadows—all part of the Albanese government's Social Housing Accelerator program. This is an investment of more than $80 million through the accelerator, delivering 120 new social homes for those who need them most. Built on vacant land facing Coleraine Street, the new homes will be modern, comfortable, energy efficient and located close to shops, transport, schools and services in the heart of Broadmeadows. The ground floor of the new housing development will include new facilities to support both future residents and those who already live on the Banksia Gardens estate.

I know people in my community are experiencing challenges finding a safe and secure place to call home, so these 120 new homes will make a significant difference to their lives and to those of their families. Also importantly, the construction of these new homes will create more than 700 local jobs. We know that the concept of job creation is foreign to those opposite. The simple fact is that Australia has a housing shortage. We need to build more homes more quickly and in more parts of the country. That's why the federal government has landed a once-in-a-generation accord with the states and territories, with the ambitious goal of building 1.2 million homes by the end of the decade. We know this is a challenge, and it would be the most homes we've built in Australia's history. But it's a challenge that this government knows we must meet—and will meet. That's why we're making record investment to build new homes—a record of $32 billion.

Another important fact is that there was more money in this last budget alone than in all the budgets combined under the former government. This plan means we're unlocking all parts of the housing system to build more homes, including providing national leadership, funding and incentives, and, importantly, training more tradies, funding more apprentices and growing the workforce. We know one of the key challenges is working to address constraints in the construction sector to boost the supply of housing right across the country. That is why we are also working to address skill shortages, with record investment in additional fee-free TAFE places, with a further $90 million in this budget to support a further 20,000 apprenticeships in construction sector courses.

The previous government's inaction did absolutely nothing to address this issue in a way that sees more roofs over people's heads. That's why people in my electorate know and understand the importance of a functioning government. They know it is critical for government to intervene and put forward policies that reverse negative trends.

So, what do housing experts in the industry have to say about the Labor government's policies? Alex Waldren from Master Builders Australia said:

Help to Buy is a sensible policy approach that looks at lifting housing affordability measures while not negatively impacting the investment market.

And Brendan Coates of the Grattan Institute said: 'The government's Help to Buy Bill would establish a national shared equity scheme that would help level the playing field' when it comes to accessing home ownership. In contrast, reflecting on the Liberals' policy framework, independent economist Saul Eslake said that if it were enacted it 'would be one of the worst public policy decisions of the 21st century'.

The contrast between that and the Albanese Labor government's housing policy couldn't be clearer. The Labor government is one that builds; the opposition is a rabble that seeks to tear down.

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