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

As Labor works diligently to address housing challenges across the nation, it's clear that the Greens and the LNP are much more interested in exploiting the situation for their own agendas. The Liberal and National parties, for instance, appear intent on using the housing crisis as a lever to undermine our superannuation system. Their approach is fundamentally flawed and dangerous—flawed because it fails to tackle the root causes of our housing shortage, which is the lack of supply, and dangerous because it threatens the financial security of Australians in their retirement. By pushing their plan to raid superannuation funds, they risk inflating housing prices without genuinely increasing housing stock. This would not only jeopardise retirees' ability to enjoy a dignified retirement but also force many to sell their homes and move away from their communities just to make ends meet. This is not just misguided; it's a bad idea with far-reaching negative consequences.

Their friends in the opposition to moving towards a better solution for housing for Australians are none other than the Australian Greens, and their proposals are equally problematic. Their housing spokesperson has made sweeping, unsubstantiated claims about there being no housing shortage, while simultaneously advocating for a housing lottery, a plan deemed by the Grattan Institute as expensive and poorly targeted. This approach by the irresponsible Greens political party reflects a lack of seriousness and an eagerness to exploit the housing issue for political gain and vote purchasing, rather than offering practical solutions. At a local level, the Greens continue to obstruct housing rezoning and to block crucial housing legislation in the Senate.

In contrast, Labor remains committed to real reform and progress. We're focused on solving the housing crisis with practical, effective measures rather than engaging in destructive and denialist policies. (Time expired)