Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

In addition to those cost-of-living benefits, there's also, of course, the new one-off $250 cost-of-living payment, delivered within weeks to six million Australians. Pensioners, carers, veterans, jobseekers, eligible self-funded retirees and concession card holders will benefit. Together with existing indexation arrangements, this will see a single pensioner receive more than $500 in additional support over the next six months, just when they need it most. How's that for a plan? It sounds like a pretty good plan to me.

The reason this government can deliver the cost-of-living relief is the responsible way in which this government has managed the budget through one of the most challenging times ever seen by this country. That's why we can deliver this cost-of-living relief to the good constituents of South Australia, who you represent, and to the good constituents of Queensland, who I represent.

At the same time, whilst relieving those cost-of-living pressures, we're also assisting the people of Australia with fulfilling their long-term plan—if we want to talk about plans—to buy a house, because that's the Australian dream. That's the Australia I grew up in: that everyone in this country should have the opportunity, if they work hard and put the effort in, to realise that dream of buying their first home. And this government has delivered in spades in relation to that objective. Over the last year, 160,000 Australians have purchased their first home. That is a terrific record of achievement by this government. We're doubling the Home Guarantee Scheme, to 50,000 places per year. Approximately 10,000 Queenslanders have benefited from that Home Guarantee Scheme—10,000 Queenslanders in their homes, no doubt listening to their senator from Queensland making a contribution to this debate.