Answers to Questions

Polley defended the government's record, stating that it had invested over $233 million in veterans' support and rebuilt the Department of Veterans' Affairs after previous neglect. Polley argued that the government had simplified the veterans compensation scheme in response to royal commission recommendations. Polley contrasted the current minister's willingness to acknowledge errors with the conduct of former ministers. Polley also criticised the opposition for delaying housing legislation, including the Housing Australian Future Fund, for political advantage.

Sheldon criticised the opposition's housing policies, claiming they sought to remove $29 billion from housing funding and reduce building standards to basic safety requirements. Sheldon argued that such measures would result in poor quality housing and ignored fire safety and health standards. Sheldon noted that the Greens had also delayed housing support measures, causing a nearly 12-month wait for assistance. Sheldon asserted that renter organisations supported the government's changes to capital gains tax and other housing announcements, which were aimed at addressing the housing crisis.

Sharma highlighted the lack of progress one year after the Economic Reform Roundtable, citing declining productivity, rising inflation, and increasing government debt. Sharma noted that productivity growth had fallen from 0.8 per cent to 0.3 per cent, with real wages remaining below June 2022 levels. Sharma pointed out that the National Construction Code had not been simplified as promised, contributing to higher building costs and rents. Sharma warned that removing negative gearing could lead to significant rent increases, referencing historical data from the mid-1980s.