Nita Green (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Minister, making housing more affordable matters to young Australians as well as those under pressure from the cost of living. Can the minister explain how delays to the Albanese Labor government's housing reforms, engineered by Mr Peter Dutton and Mr Bandt, will impact the cost of living, particularly for renters and those trying to buy a home of their own?

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

Thanks to Senator Green for her question, and thank you for your two-minute statement, which went through a recent announcement about more housing in Cairns in your home state of Queensland. Our government's priority is helping all Australians with the cost of living. We've delivered tax cuts for every taxpayer as well as energy bill relief, and we're delivering cheaper medicines, cheaper groceries, cheaper child care, fee-free TAFE, HECS relief and more homes, because that is what makes a difference to Australians' cost of living. This week we've tried to deliver even more homes for 40,000 low- and middle-income Australians. Labor's Help to Buy plan is action that helps Australians who've worked hard and saved but still can't afford a deposit.

But what do these Australians hear from Mr Dutton and the Liberals? Well, it's the same as always: 'No. No no no.' Liberals don't want to help Australians with the cost of living. They think that, if they make the problem worse, it will be better for them politically, which is why they've tried to block every cost-of-living measure we've introduced and then come in here and complain about cost of living. They've offered no help, no plans for people struggling, just more negativity—and then they cuddle up to the Greens to help push urgent housing reforms down the track.

Remember: these delays were deliberately engineered by Mr Bandt's Greens party and Mr Dutton's Liberal Party. They were deliberately engineered because they don't care that it means Australians on low and middle incomes now have to wait longer to buy a house. It doesn't affect them, so it doesn't matter to them. Mr Dutton and the Liberals created the housing crisis. The Albanese government is trying to fix it, and the Liberals and the Greens are deliberately getting in the way.

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

Senator McKenzie, can you stop deliberately shouting across the chamber? If you can't listen—

Senator McKenzie, if you can't listen in silence, I invite you to leave the chamber.

Nita Green (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, the Community Housing Industry Association has welcomed the Albanese Labor government's first round of funding for social and affordable housing under the Housing Australia Future Fund. CHIA CEO Wendy Hayhurst said, 'It's heartening to see the Commonwealth taking decisive action to address Australia's housing crisis', and today the Prime Minister announced even more social and affordable housing in Far North Queensland. Can the minister detail that announcement and explain the Albanese Labor government's plans to further boost social and affordable housing? (Time expired)

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

It says a lot when those who work at the coalface of homelessness and domestic violence services support Labor's housing plans but the Liberal Party and the Greens political party do not. Those on the front lines know that the problems that the Liberal government created over nine years can't be fixed overnight. As Ms Hayhurst said, 'When you're tackling a housing crisis that has been decades in the making, the key is to show long-term commitment and to steadily make inroads', and that is what our government is doing.

As Senator Green said, the Prime Minister was in Cairns this morning, unlocking even more social and affordable housing. This is Queensland's biggest ever social and affordable housing project, with 490 homes. They don't like it. They don't like more social and affordable housing in this country, including in Cairns. (Time expired)

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

Senator Green, second supplementary?

Nita Green (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, a report authored by top economist Saul Eslake has found that using superannuation for a housing deposit would make homes more expensive, hinder the homeownership of young Australians, reduce retirement incomes and lead to significant long-term costs to the federal budget. Can the minister explain why the Albanese Labor government's housing reforms will help young Australians now and in the long run?

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Order across the chamber. Order! Minister Wong.

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

Thank you, Senator Green, for your question. Can I say this: the Albanese government's housing reforms will help young Australians now and in the future, because we want to help 40,000 low- and middle-income Australians yesterday. Mr Dutton's only plan is to let young people raid their super to get into the market, which will only drive up house prices and leave young Australians worse off by the time they retire.

According to Mr Eslake, if super for housing was introduced it would be 'one of the worst public policy decisions in six decades'. It 'would do little for the people who are most in need of assistance' and it 'would do most for those who need it least.' 'Super for housing'—just listen to this—'would just make the affordability crisis worse.' Super for housing would just make—

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

Minister Wong, please resume your seat. Senator Davey, to cup your hands and yell across the chamber is incredibly disrespectful. I've asked you to listen in silence. That is what I expect. Minister Wong.

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

Your policy would just make the affordability crisis worse. It would make it worse, but you don't care. (Time expired)