Helen Haines (Indi, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the housing minister. I acknowledge the government's commitments of $500 million to the Housing Support program, $2 billion for the Social Housing Accelerator and $3 billion through the new homes bonus. But, despite one in three Australians living outside a major city, not one of these announcements is dedicated to funding housing in regional, rural or remote Australia. Why won't this government guarantee funding for dedicated housing supply in regional Australia?

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

I thank the member for Indi for her question. The member for Indi and I have had many conversations about how important it is to make sure that regional Australia does get its fair share of housing. Whether they be regional towns, regional centres or regional cities, we hear very frequently that there are housing shortages, and it is particularly impacting businesses that can get workers, because there's nowhere for them to live, and particularly key workers in essential services—nurses, doctors, police. They have nowhere to live in these regional towns. So we understand how critical it is. Indeed, we understand how critical it is across the country but particularly in those regional towns with the impact it's having. That's why, of course, we brought forward our Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee. I'm pleased to update the member that 9,000 people in regional Australia have now bought their first home because we brought forward that program. We now have over 9,000 Australians in their own home because of that.

I also want to reassure the member that, when it comes to the Housing Accord, the 10,000 affordable homes that the Commonwealth are committed to, we have taken steps to ensure that each state and territory and, indeed, regional and rural Australia gets its fair share of homes from the Housing Accord.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister will pause so I can hear the point of order from the member for Hume.

Angus Taylor (Hume, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

on relevance—why isn't the minister delivering housing in the heart of regional Australia?

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'll hear from the Leader of the House.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order, I think it's important that a penalty under standing orders is taken as a penalty. What we saw just then was an agreement between the member for Hume and the Leader of the Opposition to try to control this so that he doesn't have to give a speech.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Resume your seat.

Opposition members interjecting—

The Leader of the Opposition and the Leader of the House will both resume your seats. Resume your seats. Just resume your seat for a moment.

Honourable members interjecting—

Order! Members on my right will cease interjecting. So will on members on my left. The member for Hume raised a point of order. I called the Leader of the House on that point of order, and he better get to his point of order.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Under 96(a), I suggest the member for Hume, in the interests of the House and the order of the House, should be allowed to stay in the chamber!

Honourable members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order!

Angus Taylor (Hume, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What are you hiding from? Why won't you deliver housing?

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The member for Hume, because I'm feeling generous and it's been a big week, will cease interjecting. I give the call to the Minister for Housing, Homelessness and Small Business.

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

I would say the member for Indi and many other people in this room actually care about regional Australia and housing and actually want to hear this answer, unlike those opposite. We're going to make sure—and I reiterate our commitment—

Opposition members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The minister will come to her conclusion of the answer.

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

I reiterate our commitment that, under the Housing Australia Future Fund, the 30,000 houses will be going to regional and rural Australia in their fair share as well as, of course, around the rest of the country, and each state and territory will get their fair share.

Richard Marles (Corio, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.

H onourable members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Members on my right will cease interjecting. Order! The Treasurer will cease interjecting. I want to hear from the member for North Sydney in silence. She has indicated that she is seeking the call on indulgence.