Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Housing in the Senate, Senator Farrell. Minister, two-thirds of renters are experiencing rental stress. For many renters, one more unlimited increase to their rent will mean that they have to leave their home, and some will be priced out of the private rental market altogether. If there are no limits to the amount that rents can be increased, it won't matter how much public and affordable housing is delivered through the Housing Australia Future Fund. Unless we stop rents skyrocketing, wait lists for public housing will blow out and we won't be able to tackle the housing crisis. On the weekend, the government put money on the table through the National Cabinet in return for changes in planning laws. Minister, do the government accept that they can also do this to coordinate a rent freeze, just as the Greens have proposed?

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order on my right! Senator Wong! Senator McKim! Senator Whish-Wilson! I should not have to single senators out. I have called for order.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Faruqi for her question. I have to say, Senator, on an historic day in this place, when we pass a piece of legislation that allows for, finally, a referendum on recognition of Indigenous Australians through a voice to parliament, it's a great shame that the Greens have chosen this particular day to vote down a piece of legislation—

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senators on my right! Senator Farrell, if you'd direct your answers through the chair, please. Please continue.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

So it's a great pity that on this historic day the Greens would choose to link a decision—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Farrell, please resume your seat again.

Order, Senator Shoebridge! There are many opportunities for you throughout the week to make a statement about the matters that you wish to. Question time is not one of them, particularly as I have called the right side of the chamber to order on a number of occasions. The minister is entitled to give his answer in silence. Minister Farrell, please continue.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I know why the Greens are so embarrassed and keep interrupting me when I'm answering this question—

I know why Senator Shoebridge is so—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Farrell, please resume your seat. It's quiet now; you may continue.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I know why the Greens are so embarrassed about what has happened today. Shame on you! You had an historic opportunity today to vote with the Labor Party to start—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Farrell, please resume your seat. Senator Whish-Wilson.

Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A point of order, President. You just directed Senator Farrell, who has ignored your direction as Chair, not to address the Greens directly. Could you please—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Whish-Wilson. I will draw that to Minister Farrell's attention. I have also spent a considerable part of the answer calling for order, particularly on the right and to the back of the chamber. I'd ask all senators to respect the directions I give. Minister.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will direct my response to you, President, in light of that direction, because I know that you know that what I'm saying about what the Greens did today in alliance, in cooperation, with what I earlier today described as an axis—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Farrell, please resume your seat.

Government senators interjecting—

Order! Order on my right! Government senators! Senator McKim, I think you also know better than to call out a point of order as you're standing.

Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, President. I do have a point of order, which is that Senator Farrell is reflecting on you as the President when he says that you know something. I ask you to require him to withdraw it.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McKim, it was not a reflection on me. Please continue, Minister Farrell.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I understand, President, why the Greens are so, so embarrassed and do not want me to answer— (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Faruqi, your first supplementary.

Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, does the government have modelling on the number of people and families who will become homeless because of rental increases over the next year?

Government Senators:

Government senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Have you finished your question, Senator Faruqi?

Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you. Before I call Minister Farrell, I'm going to remind government senators to listen respectfully to the minister's answer.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Unfortunately, because there was so much noise I actually didn't hear the question. I wonder whether Senator Faruqi could repeat her first supplementary?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Faruqi, please repeat your supplementary.

Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

All the noise was from your side, by the way! Minister, does the government have modelling on the number of people and families who will become homeless because of rental increases over the next year?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'll say this to Senator Faruqi: we don't need modelling to tell us that there's a serious problem with housing, homelessness and rentals in this country. We know that after their nine years of failing to do anything about it we're finally doing something about it. We're proposing to spend $10 billion on fixing this problem—

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

How much?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, I can repeat that figure: $10 billion. Some of that money will go to women and children in crisis situations. Some of that money will go to veterans. Some of that money will go to assist Indigenous Australians. But the reality is that all of that money is going to help solve the problems of homelessness, rental accommodation costs and— (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Faruqi, a second supplementary?

Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, is it the government's position that rental increases of any amount should be legal?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The first observation I would make is that the federal government doesn't control rents; that is a matter for the state. But if this legislation was to have been supported, rather than being rejected by the Greens political party today, we would already be on the way to resolving some of the issues which you pretend that you're interested in solving. We've got a solution here. You heard the—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Farrell, please resume your seat. Senator Faruqi?

Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My point of order is to relevance. My question was very tightly crafted and very straightforward about the government's position that rental increases of any amount should be legal.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Faruqi. Minister Farrell is being directly relevant to your question. Minister, please continue.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, President. Can I say to Senator Faruqi, just one aspect of the work that the Labor Party is doing to try and resolve this issue results in $600 million over the weekend, announced by the Prime Minister, to the people of New South Wales. We are serious about solving this problem. (Time expired)

Raff Ciccone (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's good to be back here after a week on the sidelines. My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Housing and Minister for Homelessness, Senator Farrell. All senators in this place would be aware of the housing affordability challenges currently facing Australians. Thankfully, after a decade of inaction, the Albanese Labor government has an ambitious agenda to deliver more affordable homes. Can the minister, please, update the Senate on the immediate steps that the Albanese government is taking to deliver on more social housing rental homes for Australians who need them?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Ciccone. It's good to see you back. Unlike the Greens, I know that you are serious about dealing with the issue of housing costs and homelessness. And, of course, the Albanese government wants every Australian to have a roof over their head.

Fundamental to tackling the country's housing challenges is increasing the supply of new housing. Just this week, we announced $2 billion in social housing accelerator, which will deliver new social, rental homes right across this country, including in Victoria, your home state. This money will be flowing to the states and territories within weeks and must be committed within two years to deliver thousands—I repeat, thousands—of new social housing homes to rent right across the country.

Funding has been to ensure a minimum of $50 million for each state and territory. States will have the flexibility in how to permanently boost social housing stocks, including new builds, expanding existing programs or renovating or refurbishing existing but uninhabitable stock to bring it back to supply.

This investment will mean life-changing new homes for Australians currently on social housing waiting lists right across the country. This $2 billion social housing accelerator is in addition to our ambitious housing reform agenda that builds on the commitment of the Albanese government to deliver the housing that Australians desperately need.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Ciccone, a first supplementary?

Raff Ciccone (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the minister for the very comprehensive answer, and it is reassuring to hear that the Labor Party is taking serious action on housing affordability in this country. It is a pity that the same can't be said of those opposite and those on the crossbench. Minister, can you, please, update the Senate on some of the other important measures that make up the ambitious housing reform agenda of the Albanese government and how they are addressing housing challenges for all Australians?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, I can, Senator Ciccone. The Albanese government has hit the ground running on housing, delivering immediate action along with an ambitious reform agenda. As well as the $2 billion social housing accelerator and the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund—which was rejected by the Greens today—in the budget we increased the maximum rate of Commonwealth rent assistance by 15 per cent. We've added an additional $2 billion in financing for more social and affordable rental housing through the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation, we've created new incentives to boost the supply of built-to-rent accommodation and we've expanded eligibility criteria for the Home Guarantee Scheme. We've also delivered a $67.5 million boost to homelessness funding to states and territories— (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Ciccone, your second supplementary question?

Raff Ciccone (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Clearly the Housing Australia Future Fund is an important component of the government's ambitious housing reform agenda. Can the minister please explain how the Senate's failure to support the Housing Australia Future Fund will affect those Australians who are seeking a safe and affordable place to call home?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, I can. Let's be clear: the decision today by the Greens—along with their partners, the coalition—was to reject the bill to establish the Housing Australia Future Fund. I'll just repeat that, because I hear somebody didn't hear me say it. The Greens, in conjunction with the coalition, rejected the bill to establish the Housing Australia Future Fund. Sadly, there is a cost.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I know you're embarrassed! I know you're both embarrassed in the Greens-coalition coalition. Sadly, there is a cost for these actions, and it's a cost Australians will pay for the Greens teaming up with the coalition. For every day of delay, more than $1.3 million does not go to new social and affordable rental housing for Australians. But the greater cost is to the Australians who need these homes—the women and children trying to escape family violence. (Time expired.)