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. Yesterday during question time you'll recall that you said that 13,700 houses were 'in the pipeline' under round 1 of the Housing Australia Future Fund. How many homes—

I think you should listen to what the President just said. How many homes have been completed under the Housing Australia Future Fund agenda?

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

Thank you, Senator. President, through you, I'd say to Senator Bragg two things. The first is that I refer to my answer yesterday. The second is that I just point out to you that, probably, if we had had the opportunity to have the Housing Australia Future Fund earlier, we would have seen a lot more progress. You were amongst the many people over there who did not want to progress that, and you still don't. So what I can say to you, Senator, is there are absolutely more houses to be built and being built by this government than there would be if Mr Dutton were in power.

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

Senator Bragg, first supplementary?

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

Given we couldn't get any more information on the number of houses completed, how many homes 'in the pipeline'—another one of your quotes from yesterday—have actually been completed?

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

As I said yesterday, the government's committed $32 billion in new housing initiatives, including $6 billion in the most recent budget. 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 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. I'm going to assume the minister doesn't know the difference between 'completed' and 'pipeline'.

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

Senator Cash, get to the point of order.

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

People can't live in a 'pipeline' house.

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Order! Senator Cash, that would be defined as a debating point, not a point of order. The minister may wish to add to her answer; otherwise I call Senator Bragg for a second supplementary.

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

Minister, will you now admit that the Housing Australia Future Fund is nothing but a pipedream? Why won't the Prime Minister apologise for his failure to deliver a solution that will provide more homes for Australians, as he promised?

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

Labor will never apologise for investing in housing. Unlike you, we actually believe that government has a role in housing. You believe that the Commonwealth has no role in housing. We have 24,000 homes into the pipeline—13,700 under round 1 of the HAFF—and those opposite are complaining because they have a government that is investing in housing they don't want. Senator Bragg, at least have the honesty to stand up and say, 'The federal government should not invest in housing,' because that is your policy. At least have the honestly to say to Australians, 'We don't believe that the federal government should help fund housing.' That's your policy—zero! You come in here and complain. Your policy is zero houses from the federal government. That is your policy, Senator Bragg. At least have the honesty to say to Australians, 'Peter Dutton's housing policy is "no houses by a federal government".'

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

Order! It is not a competition to see which senators can yell more loudly than a person providing the answer. You either listen in silence or you leave the chamber. The disorder in this place is, quite frankly, disrespectful. It is particularly disrespectful to me when I am calling you to order.