Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to make a contribution to the debate on these bills, which are finally looking like they will get through. But I do need to make clear that these bills could have already been through this parliament but for what I will call an unholy alliance between the former government—the Liberal-National parties—and the Greens party, who obstructed its passage. I am glad that it is here today and I am glad it is here ahead of the time line that was scheduled for its return. But the reality is, in the land of mythology and the land of no, nothing good happens for Australia. The mythical world that the Greens seem to believe in and want to exist and the opposition, who just say no to everything, is a very dangerous alliance that gets in the way of good outcomes for Australians.

I want to say, as a Labor senator, I am here with renters. It is hard to rent a property if there are none being built. It is hard to rent a property if there is no supply and if you had a government like we had for the last 10 years not doing anything about supply, just saying, 'Leave it to the property developers to build. The market will provide.' Well, clearly, that failed and they didn't do their job as a government. So let me formally say that I am very pleased to inform the chamber and even more pleased to inform the Australian people that the Albanese government has yet again delivered on promises made to the Australian public only one short year ago.

So often in this place we move very quickly from one issue to the next, one idea to the next, without properly taking stock of what has been achieved. In one short year of the Albanese Labor government, young families are able to feel that little bit less anxious as they take their child to their first day of daycare, not because of the cost but because it is one small milestone that has been passed that means they can enjoy the benefits of the Albanese childcare policy. Nine-year-old children will be able to get new school shoes for school while also leaving money for mum to buy petrol for the week as the single parenting payment is raised. The dilemma between a student focusing on their studies and working pay cheque to pay cheque is eased as youth allowance and rent assistance—the largest increase in rent assistance, by the way; you won't hear that from the Greens, who are delusional about these matters—are raised, making one's commitment to their future an easier decision to make and retain. Graduates are able to choose to embark on industries such as critical minerals and clean energy, reflecting a brighter future as a burgeoning technological power with the support of the Modern Manufacturing Fund. And older Australians too, one year into the Albanese Labor government can now look to have a higher more reliable standard of care as aged-care homes are working to be staffed 24 hours a day with a registered nurse to provide around-the-clock support to citizens who have given so much to this great country. They're some of the things that we've done, and now Australians will have more help in purchasing their own home as the Albanese government makes a sustainable investment into the continued supply of housing stock in Australia. Doing nothing, as the former government did, simply didn't work. We are in a maelstrom; that's been the construction of a failure to think carefully about policy and to act properly and carefully as a government to invest where that is required in the interest of the nation.

The list that I just read demonstrates that curation of effective, measured and meaningful policy can have tangible, powerfully positive impacts on the lives of all Australians as they step through their various stages of life with the help and the support of their government, and that's not—and nor should it ever be—a for-profit enterprise that derelicts its duty to its citizens when the need is so glaringly obvious. While those opposite seem to see every citizen as a taxpayer or a recipient in some sort of financial economic accord and only see them myopically in that way, the Labor Party responsibly manages the economy but also sees the people of Australia for the full potential that they can bring on our growing journey as a nation to shared prosperity and development. But they need a government that responds to the market challenges of the times, and that is what the Housing Australia Future Fund will do.

It gives effect to a number of the government's election commitments in the housing portfolio. We committed to establishing the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund, which has come to be known as the HAFF, to increase social and affordable housing and to help address acute housing needs. We're doing that with mindfulness to respond to the reality that we really need to provide a response to women and children who are fleeing domestic violence. They have very particular needs in housing. They have been ignored, denied, silenced. For older women who are at risk of homelessness, we are dedicated to making sure there is a space for those women. We are dedicated to the service of provision of a house for our veterans. Of course, regional areas—in fact, the most remote areas of the country, particularly Indigenous communities—we know are in great need.

We've gone on to establish the National Housing Supply and Affordability Council and we've given it the status of an independent statutory advisory body. The council has a critical role. It's going to inform the Commonwealth's approach to housing policy by delivering independent advice to the government on housing supply and affordability, and that will assist renters. So any discussion here in the chamber that tries to suggest one party as the champions of renters is creating a myth that should not be allowed to stand. Supply is the answer for everybody in Australia who needs a house, whether it's one that they purchased through a mortgage, one that they live in mortgage-free, one that they aspire to have and are saving towards or one that they live in as a renter.

Changing the name of the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation, NHFIC, to Housing Australia was important because that's the job: housing Australia. It also streamlines its functions and makes further changes to provide certainty to the community housing sector and investors. Just this week the Albanese government announced a welcome new support for the Housing Australia Future Fund, meaning the housing legislative package is going to pass the Senate this week.

I'd like to highlight that this housing policy has both mass appeal and mass consensus across broad swathes of Australian society. Despite the interruption here in the Senate from that unholy alliance between the Liberal-National Party and the Greens political party, it has always been our commitment prior to the election, delivered through this legislation, and included the support of housing groups. It has always had, and retains, the support of the unions. It has always had, and retains, the support of businesses. It has always had, and retains, the support of people who are renting, pensioners, young people and everyone in between—and, I can happily say, many on the crossbench who are listening to community, unlike the Greens political party and the Liberal and National parties, who sought to prevent the advance of this bill.

I think all of that broad, deep, massed support shows that the Labor government brought the Australian public, good governance and investment, in a very wise policy way, to this wicked problem of so many people being in housing distress or unhoused. The policy that is borne out in the HAFF legislation before us is an extremely sensible policy. It's designed to produce reliable, out-of-budget contributions to the housing market at the bottom end. It's both sustainable and able to grow continuously as it matures. This pipeline of housing investment and support for Australia's most vulnerable dwellers will do incredibly well in improving the life of every Australian.

I note that this action of responsible government—saying what you're going to do and creating the legislation to do what you said you were going to do and then progressing it through the parliament—is very different to the inaction and dereliction of duty that so characterised and plagued the Morrison government. Mr Morrison, for all his many ministerial hats, did absolutely nothing to increase supply in a constricted housing market. Instead he chose inaction and denial. In Mr Morrison's particular case, perhaps it was a case of too many cooks spoiling the broth: with so many portfolios—Finance, Health, Treasury and Home Affairs—he didn't have sufficient time to focus on this critical issue of Australians needing a roof over their heads. But, thankfully, the Australian people voted for change. They voted for the change to an Albanese government, and we have made a habit every single day of working hard and delivering for Australians during every step of their life journeys. Getting a house, a roof above your head for yourself and your family, is a vital part of the journey, whether you're in good financial circumstances or you find yourself in very difficult financial circumstances.

As a senator for New South Wales, I want to highlight the transformational impact that this government's had on the constituents that I'm proud to represent. The Albanese government's working with states and territories to help them meet the ambitious new target to build 1.2 million well-located new homes over five years from July, through our $3 billion new homes bonus and our $500 million Housing Support Program. This builds on the Housing Accord we announced last year in the budget, which includes federal funding to deliver 10,000 affordable homes across the country, to be matched by states and territories, including New South Wales.

The reality is that there is a separation between the states and there are things we can and can't do. As much as we might have some contributions from the Greens political party in this chamber declaring the world to be a particular way, the reality is that we need to work collaboratively with the states. They have powers to do some things. They do not have powers to operate others. Last year, this government unlocked up to $575 million in funding from the National Housing Infrastructure Facility to build more social and affordable rental housing in New South Wales, and in the last budget we delivered an additional $2 billion in financing for more social and affordable rental housing in New South Wales through NHFIC. The National Housing and Homelessness Agreement is critical, and through that we've already delivered $498.2 million to New South Wales in the financial year 2022-23. That, importantly, includes funding for homelessness services. Over the next year, 2023-24, we'll deliver, through the National Housing and Homelessness Agreement, $515.6 million to New South Wales. That includes $9.46 million for homelessness services. This agreement delivers funding to build more homes and support frontline homelessness services.

In terms of getting a better deal for renters, let me just be clear. I said I stand with renters. We've all rented at some point in time. Those who seek to rent are desperate for more supply. We know that there are 957,800 renters in New South Wales alone. That's not going to get shifted in a day. We have to work with the states and territories to deliver a better deal. This is about: consistent policy to implement requirements for genuine reasonable grounds for eviction; moving towards limiting rental increases to once a year; ensuring victims of domestic and family violence have the support they need to find a secure, safe, affordable home; considering options for better regulations of short-stay residential accommodation; and phasing in minimal rental standards.

This focus on housing that we are undertaking is in complete contrast to the nine years of neglect from the Liberal and National parties that we are following. It comes from a deep understanding within this government by the Labor Party that housing is an intrinsic part of the social compact. How can you possibly get up and get ready to go out for a job interview if you haven't been able to shower and get clean in the morning, if you haven't got clothes that are clean and ready to go, if you can't manage to get your mobile plugged in? These fundamental things have long been known to be hugely problematic, but we have no response. The opportunity in New South Wales is really being amplified by a group called Housing Now alliance. Their goal is to deliver more than 300,000 new homes over the next five years, and for New South Welshmen and women that is the equivalent of 30 new copies of Surrey Hills. It's a big task. It's an amazing alliance of good Aussies who are going to get together and get on with the job. I will have more to say about that in the future.