Andrew Bragg (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Home Ownership) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. It's quite a simple question, actually. How many houses have been built under the Housing Australia Future Fund agenda?

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

I would almost take that interjection, Senator Davey! As you know, the government has a $32 billion Homes for Australia Plan, which is focused on supply. You would also know that you and others participated in blocking very substantial components of that plan. We would have liked to have started much of this much earlier, given the housing supply challenge that Australia is facing. That job—

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I raise a point of order on relevance. The question merely asked for a number.

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

Yes, and it did talk about HAFF in the beginning of the question.

Honourable senators interjecting—

Order! You are not in a debate with me. The minister has only begun her response. I will listen carefully and, if I need to draw the minister to the question, I will certainly do that.

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

I'm advised that the government, as a consequence of these policies, has directly supported more than 10,000 new homes since the election and, through investing in social and affordable housing, is helping first home buyers get into the market with a deposit of five per cent or less. There is more in the pipeline—

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

Minister Wong, please resume your seat. Senator Cash?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have a point of order in relation to relevance. The question was in relation to the Housing Australia Future Fund.

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

I believe the minister is being relevant to the question. Minister Wong?

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

I have responded to the question, but I would say this in relation to the Housing Australia Future Fund—

Senator Bragg, it does seem somewhat hypocritical to come into here and complain about the rollout of that fund when you are a member of the coalition who have consistently opposed it.

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

Minister Wong, please resume your seat. Senator Cash?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The point of order is again relevance. It is a figure: how many were built? We can tell you the answer—it's zero. You just need to say it.

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

Senator Cash, if you are seeking a point of order you address your question to me. I've ruled on the point of order. The minister was responding to Senator Cash. I will now remind the minister to go back to the substantive question rather than talking about the senator.

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

I again say the government has directly supported more than 10,000 homes since we were elected, on top of the 400,000 that have been built nationwide, enabled by the investments in fee-free TAFE and enabling infrastructure. There are more homes to come—

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Senator Cash, I will call you when there is order in the chamber. Senator Cash?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Again, it is a point of order on relevance. We are asking for a figure under the Housing Australia Future Fund. We are not asking for the government—

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

Thank you, Senator Cash. As you described, it is a narrow question, but the minister is entitled to go to the context of the question, I am advised by the clerk. I have drawn the minister back to the question. I call the minister again.

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

I'm advised that 24,000 homes are in the pipeline through direct Commonwealth investment, including 13,700 under round 1 of the HAFF.

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

Senator Bragg, a first supplementary question?

Andrew Bragg (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Home Ownership) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

How many houses has the Housing Australia Future Fund actually completed? I don't think the answer is fee-free TAFE. In addition to that, given the overall target of a quarter of a million houses, how is the government going against that target of 250,000 houses per year?

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

As I said, 21,000 homes are in the pipeline through direct Commonwealth investment, including 13,700 under round 1 of the HAFF. The government is working with the states and territories on what is an ambitious target. But, Senator, you really have no credibility on this. You voted against the Housing Australia Future Fund every single time and now you're complaining about delays.

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

Minister Wong, please resume your seat. Senator Cash?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Again, it's a point of order in relation to relevance. Could you direct the minister to answer the question. There is a difference between 'in the pipeline' and 'built'.

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

The minister is being relevant to your question. She is entitled to talk about housing. Senator Bragg, a second supplementary question?

Andrew Bragg (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Home Ownership) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Given that the Prime Minister has now failed to apologise to Australians for Labor's cost-of-living crisis, including 12 interest rate rises, energy bills rising by $1,000, living standards collapsing, 27,000 businesses going bust and a record-breaking household recession, will the Prime Minister at least apologise to the Australian people for his housing crisis?

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

I'm asked about the cost-of-living issue. I'm asked about the cost-of-living crisis from a bloke who voted against every cost-of-living measure this government has put in place for working families, a man who voted against energy relief, child care, tax cuts and the range of cost-of-living relief that we have put in place. You lot have been in opposition for nearly three years, and you've got three policies: $10 billion to fund long lunches, $600 billion to fund nuclear reactors and cuts to everything. That's your cost-of-living response.

I ask that further questions be placed on notice.