Simon Kennedy (Cook, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I'd love for the interjections to stop. The problem has got worse since Mr Albanese came to government. The average mortgage has increased $50,000 a year. Rents are 17 per cent up. They're paying 17 per cent more, yet they want to own their own home. House prices are up by double digits as well, and the inflationary spending of this government is keeping interest rates high, piling on the pain to everyday Aussies. Housing is up 13.5 per cent, but what has happened to real disposable income? That family that came to see me about moving to WA because they could no longer afford their mortgage—well, their disposable income is down nine per cent. That means they've got nine per cent less to spend on groceries, nine per cent less to spend on food, nine per cent less to spend on insurance. They've got nine per cent less to spend, yet food is up 12 per cent, insurance is up 17 per cent and gas is up 34 per cent.

In the middle of a housing crisis, when not enough Aussies can get to own homes, what has happened? We have abolished the Australian Building and Construction Commission. And what's happened to construction costs? They are sky high. We've let 1.6 million people into Australia in the middle of a housing crisis. We have the fastest growth in immigration since 1952. According to the Master Builders Association, there are 3,605 small construction businesses in my electorate who are struggling, many hitting the wall. In the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, in the middle of a housing crisis, when we should be building more, these construction companies are going broke.

The coalition has a plan to address this national crisis, and it will: super for housing. We will let first home buyers put $50,000 of their money towards their own home. Yes, it's their money. I know it's news to those across the floor, but super is their money, and we'll let them put it towards their homes. We'll put a ban on foreign investors and temporary residents purchasing homes in Australia. We will reduce the permanent migration program by 25 per cent because we know that will reduce demand for housing. Do those on the other side want to keep that going up? Do you want those people to outcompete Australians for homes? I assume that's a yes. Not only will we do that; we will also ensure we have enough temporary skilled visas and workers to come in and build these homes. Lastly, we will invest $5 billion to unlock 500,000 new homes to get this country moving again.

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