Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (NSW, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Community Services, Senator Scullion. Will the minister inform the Senate of Australian government programs and initiatives which are assisting Australians to buy or rent their home? Is the minister aware of any alternative policies?

Nigel Scullion (NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Community Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the senator for her question and recognise her longstanding interest in housing afffordability not only in the Illawarra but also in the wider New South Wales constituency. The greatest assistance in housing affordability that this government could ever give to Australians is by providing a fantastic and sustainable economy. As all in this place should know—although I understand there are some on the other side who are in denial—this government has delivered just that. Unemployment is now at 4.5 per cent, a 32-year low. People who are considering buying their own homes should also consider the 10.9 per cent unemployment that was left for this government to deal with. There are over two million new jobs and wages have increased by 19.8 per cent. We have a strong and stable economy which enables more people to be in a position to buy their own home.

Under the Commonwealth-State Housing Agreement this government has delivered $4.75 billion and provides an additional $2.2 billion in rental assistance to assist social security recipients and families on low incomes. The family tax benefit part A, increasing the income tax threshold, as well as the extension to supplements to families with three children are fantastic initiatives which have assisted people at the coalface. And of course there is the major income tax change which means that 80 per cent of Australians now pay less than 30c in the dollar—an absolutely significant incentive that will allow people to save money to buy their own homes.

Interestingly, despite this fantastic economy, there is no doubt—and all of us who are interested in this area would recognise—that people are having some trouble affording their own homes. It is interesting that the senator alluded to alternative tax policies, because I think that has a great deal to do with people’s capacity to buy their own home. The state and territory governments collect significant amounts in stamp duty and in various other land taxes. Much more could be done in this area in order to improve housing affordability.

John Faulkner (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This sounds like babble.

Nigel Scullion (NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Community Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

For those on the other side who are interjecting and obviously show no interest in this very important matter, Alan Jones commented on the Today show on 14 February 2007, ‘It’s made much worse by the behaviour of some state governments. One of the reasons is the extent to which the government and in particular the New South Wales government, uses property as a vehicle to raise tax.’ He went on to say—and this is a number which I think they should be concerned with—that families buying a new home in Sydney pay on average $68,000 in infrastructure charges with every new home. This is the new housing affordability tax by the Iemma government. I would not be being so smart about it on the other side.

We do our best. We provide the first home loans grant. Do you know where that goes? In New South Wales it goes straight into the coffers of the Labor Party. State governments continue to have a love affair with money rather than caring about their constituents. (Time expired)

Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (NSW, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. The minister made reference to policies of the New South Wales government. Could the minister elaborate further on why residents of New South Wales are being dudded by the policies of Labor in New South Wales?

Nigel Scullion (NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Community Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I was saying, the New South Wales government need to stop having a love affair with money and start caring about their constituency when it comes to these issues. The Financial Review of 21 March said that we can expect this housing affordability tax to go to $15 billion this year. Another $1.7 billion from the GST in New South Wales is returned to New South Wales, but do we see any relief for New South Wales people buying houses? Absolutely not. It goes straight into the Iemma skyrocket. That is what is going to continue. Based on the performance of the Iemma government, New South Wales people can make a very good decision on Saturday and vote them completely out of office. That is the only way houses are going to be affordable in New South Wales.

Paul Calvert (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senators on my left, I remind you that shouting across the chamber is disorderly.

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

And senators on the right as well?

Paul Calvert (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Are you reflecting on the chair, Senator?

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No, I am not, Mr President.

Paul Calvert (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would ask you not to. I would also ask you to resume your seat. I am on my feet. If you have a point of order, you can raise it.

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I rise on a point of order. I think you were correct in ruling that the chamber had become noisy, but I would appreciate it if you would also bring that to the attention of ministers who shout for four minutes in allegedly answering a question which was designed to be an attack in the lead-up to the state election and which failed miserably. I urge you to consider both sides of the chamber when making such rulings.

Nick Minchin (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance and Administration) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, on the point of order, I would just make the point that ministers, regrettably, have to shout to be heard above all the babble from the other side.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Paul Calvert (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order!

John Faulkner (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I rise on a point of order. I just want to draw your attention to the fact that Senator Scullion did not screech through you. I think you should insist in future that his screeching be done through the chair.

Paul Calvert (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have never had to call a minister to order before for overemphasising their voice while answering a question. But I do take the point that there is a lot of noise in the chamber. I would remind all senators, including ministers, that shouting is disorderly. Senator Nettle, do you have a point of order?

Kerry Nettle (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, I do. Mr President, I would ask you to review your decision to allow that supplementary question. In the past, you have ruled that people can ask questions about alternative policies or other parties, but that supplementary question named a particular party and asked about it. I want you to review that, because in the past you have made different rulings that did not allow that kind of question. I would ask you to review your decision to allow that question.

Paul Calvert (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will have a look at it.

John Faulkner (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, further to the point of order: if you are going to review that supplementary question, I would ask you to review the supplementary question asked by Senator Nash, which was clearly out of order.

Paul Calvert (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No, it was not out of order, Senator.

John Faulkner (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I believe it was.

Paul Calvert (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You may believe that, but I can tell you—

John Faulkner (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Then I would ask you to review that supplementary question.

Paul Calvert (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If you recall, the question that was asked was in terms of why they would not be adopting the particular policies, and that is in order.