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

I thank Senator Walsh for the question and for her interest in the issue of social and affordable housing in Australia. It's so important that this fund is delivered. It is the first fund of its kind which would provide an ongoing revenue stream into the social and affordable housing sector—the first time that we would have set something up via legislation to make investments. This is over and above the traditional areas of Commonwealth investment through our national partnerships with the states and territories, but it's in recognition that there is not enough supply, and there is not enough supply of housing going into the areas where it's needed the most—in First Nations communities, for women, for veterans and especially for single older women who have no retirement savings and who might be living on their own. This is the area where we need to make these investments. That is why this piece of legislation is so important, and that is why the opposition should change their position on this bill. (Time expired)