Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

The government won't be supporting Senator McKim's amendment. The expansion of the downsizer scheme will allow older Australians to consider downsizing to go earlier a home that better suits their needs, thereby increasing the availability of suitable housing for Australian families. Lowering the eligibility age from 60 to 55 recognises some people choose to downsize earlier and may wish to contribute these proceeds to superannuation in order to boost their income in retirement.

The government is dedicated to supporting older Australians and, importantly, to growing the housing supply. That's why we are also committing to developing an ambitious housing and homelessness reform agenda, bringing national leadership and a strong focus on stable and affordable housing. We've also committed to the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund, a national help-to-buy shared-equity scheme, a National Housing Supply and Affordability Council and a national housing and homelessness plan. This schedule in the bill is an important part of our overall housing approach, and we will not be supporting the Greens' amendment.

The CHAIR: The question is that schedule 5 stands as printed.

Question agreed to.

Bill agreed to.

Bill reported without amendments; report adopted.