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

I thank Senator Pratt for that question. It's an important one, because a comprehensive approach to the challenges in the housing market is required, and that's what the Albanese government's plan addresses. Every day since we've come to government we've looked at how we can use every lever and opportunity available to us to ensure that we are pushing everything we can to build more housing in Australia.

Social and affordable housing is a priority, because we care about and support Australians who have insecure housing or don't have a roof over their head and need to access those services. That's why we've signed that important National Housing Agreement, with extra funds going in there for state and territory services. Renters are a priority, because we know it's hard to get a rental and rent is often too high. We want renters to see a pathway to homeownership, and Help to Buy should be providing that pathway.

Supply is the No. 1 housing challenge. We need more houses and we need them quickly. That's why we want to build 1.2 million houses by the end of the decade and it's why in our three budgets since coming to government we have invested in housing, after a decade of neglect from those opposite. They weren't interested in housing. They're interested now that they can come in and complain about it, but when they were in government they didn't do a single thing about driving supply in this country. We've got our Housing Australia Future Fund and the Help to Buy program that we'd like to get through the Senate. We've got our extra investments in First Nations housing—historic investments secured by former minister Burney and now being implemented by Minister McCarthy. We've increased rent assistance. We're working with the states and territories. We're putting more money into skills in the construction sector. And we'll continue to do this. It's a comprehensive plan that should be supported by this Senate. (Time expired)