Marielle Smith (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. With reference to the statement by the Grattan Institute, 'The government's Help to Buy Bill would help level the playing field when it comes to accessing home ownership,' can the minister please outline the Albanese Labor government's plans to ensure all Australians can afford to buy a home of their own and not just some?

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

Thank you, Senator Smith. As she said in her question, we believe all Australians should be able to afford a safe and secure home, and we believe that you should be able to afford that no matter where you're from, no matter which school you went to, no matter who your parents are or what job you have. That's why we are investing more to build more homes to support renters and to help more Australians buy a home sooner.

Of course, on the other side, Mr Dutton—what does he believe? He actually believes only some Australians should get to own their own home. Senator Birmingham yesterday stood up in this place, and he said that the LNP 'stand for home ownership and have it as a core value'. What he left out is that they don't mean it for every Australian. They don't mean it for every Australian. What he should have said is: 'The Dutton Liberals are for home ownership but only for some of us.' That actually is the Liberal Party position. Their core value of home ownership is actually only for some, and any attempt to expand it to more Australians is something Mr Dutton has to say no to. That's why they said no to Help to Buy. It's why they said no to 40,000 low- and middle-income Australians who want to get into the market. That really showed what Mr Dutton is about.

You see, Mr Dutton and the Liberals aren't just saying no to the Albanese government; they're actually saying no to home ownership for Australians on low and middle incomes. That's the core value that the Liberal Party are defending—saying no to the dreams of young people across the country: 'No, you can't own your own home. No, we don't want to build more houses. No, we don't want social and affordable housing. No, we don't want to support Australians who need it. No, we don't want more houses and more people to own their own homes.'

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

Senator Marielle Smith, first supplementary?

Marielle Smith (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can the minister further outline what the Albanese Labor government's $32 billion Homes for Australia plan will mean for Australians?

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

Thank you for your question. Our housing reforms will help all Australians, not just some, with historic investments in social and affordable housing to support the most vulnerable in our community. We've increased rent assistance. We're boosting housing supply to ensure there are more homes to rent and to buy and that they are more affordable for everyday Australians. What have you got against affordability? Our Help to Buy scheme would help 40,000 Australians on low and middle incomes own a home sooner. But there are those in this place hell-bent on blocking these plans for their own political gain. Mr Dutton wants fewer Australians to own a house, and the Greens political party are teaming up with Mr Dutton to ensure fewer people own a house. What I would say is that working with Peter Dutton to stop meaningful reform isn't negotiating, holding the futures of Australians to ransom with the Liberals is not negotiating and denying more houses to be built is not negotiating. (Time expired)

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

Senator Marielle Smith, second supplementary?

Marielle Smith (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can the minister explain why the Albanese Labor government is focused on building more homes and increasing housing supply?

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Order on my left. Order!

Senator Ruston and Senator Hume, which bit of 'order' doesn't apply to you two? Minister Wong.

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

We on this side know that one of the best ways we can ensure that more Australians can afford a safe home, a secure home, is to build more of them. That's why we've set the ambitious goal of ambitious goal of building 1.2 million homes by the end of the decade. On the other hand, the Greens political party don't think housing supply is an issue. Their spokesperson said, 'We have enough homes for people to live in.' That is—

Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You are felling 50,000 trees in a fire zone!

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

Senator Reynolds, which bit of order does not apply to you. I'm asking you to come to order and listen in respectful silence. The same goes for you Senator McGrath.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister to the Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I was quiet then!

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

For a moment, you were.

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

The Greens political party's policy is, 'We have enough homes for people to live in.' That's what their spokesperson has said. And he's selling a lie to renters to justify what is nothing more than an unholy alliance with Mr Dutton. But building a brand doesn't put a roof over anyone's head.

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

My point of order is on reflecting adversely on a member of the other place, and, in particular, using the word 'lie' in relation to a member of the other place.

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

Senator McKim, I listened to the comment made by the minister. I didn't think it impugned anybody's reputation. I'm sure the minister will withdraw, if she thinks she has.

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

I'll rephrase. He's selling a fantasy to renters to justify—

Would you like me to withdraw? I'll withdraw. I withdraw. He's selling a fantasy to renters to justify your unholy alliance, which has been on display all week.