House of Representatives

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister rejected the premise, noting the coalition lacked a dedicated housing minister for much of their term. He highlighted the $43 billion Homes for Australia plan, which he claimed the opposition and Greens had previously opposed. He cited specific projects underway under the Housing Australia Future Fund, including homes in Thurgoona, Golden Bay, Penrith, South Grafton, Casino, Southport, Hampton East, Thornleigh, Pennant Hills, and Cranbrook. He also mentioned the build-to-rent program aiming for 80,000 homes, which he stated the opposition was attempting to disallow in the Senate. He quoted the shadow housing minister describing the Help to Buy scheme as 'crazy ideas' to illustrate the opposition's inconsistent stance.

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister cited a recent visit to Lawson, where he met a young couple who purchased a home using the five per cent deposit scheme. He noted the government had advanced the start date of this policy from 1 January to 1 October. He explained that the scheme covers lenders mortgage insurance, reducing the time needed to save for a deposit. He linked this to broader supply-side measures announced the previous day, including fast-tracking 26,000 homes awaiting environmental approval, encouraging prefabricated construction, and pausing the National Construction Code for four years.

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister listed several cost-of-living measures, including power bill relief, a 3.5 per cent minimum wage increase on 1 July, and extending paid parental leave to 24 weeks with superannuation contributions. He highlighted a program cutting 30 per cent off home battery costs and paid practical placements for students in teaching, nursing, social work, and midwifery. He also referenced the 20 per cent reduction in student debt. Regarding taxation, he stated the government had delivered stage 3 tax cuts for 14 million Australians and introduced further cuts for the following year, which the opposition had voted against and sought to reverse.

Answer from Clare O'Neil

The minister stated that 180,000 Australians had entered homeownership with government support since the election. She announced the expansion of the five per cent deposit scheme to all first-home buyers from 1 October, removing income limits and place caps, while adjusting house price caps to reflect local costs. She cited the example of a young couple in Canberra who used the scheme to buy their first home. She emphasized that the government was addressing the housing crisis from multiple angles, including building more homes and improving rental conditions.

Answer from Daniel Mulino

The minister referenced an inquiry into flood insurance that produced 86 recommendations. He noted that the general insurance code of conduct was being approved by ASIC and would become enforceable. He mentioned ongoing work to standardize insurance terms and improve protections around cash settlements and temporary accommodation. He highlighted the Disaster Ready Fund and Hazards Insurance Partnership as measures to reduce risk in high-risk areas. Regarding health insurance, he stated the Minister for Health was working with CEOs on reforms to make maternity, mental health, and Hospital in the Home services more affordable.

Answer from Jim Chalmers

The Treasurer reported that housing approvals had increased by nearly 30 per cent compared to the previous year. He listed ten priority reform areas agreed upon at the roundtable: housing, a single market, simpler trade and tariffs, better regulation, faster approvals, AI as a national priority, investment attraction, skills, tax, and government modernisation. He noted that actions were already being developed from these priorities, including recent announcements on housing approvals. He emphasized that improving productivity and budget sustainability were key to long-term living standards.

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister defended the government's record, citing job protection in Whyalla. He quoted the shadow housing minister calling the government's housing ideas 'crazy' and noted the opposition's attempt to disallow the build-to-rent program in the Senate. He highlighted support from Queensland's Liberal National Party government for the Housing Australia Future Fund, which would build 1,005 community homes. He criticized the opposition's internal divisions and lack of coherent policy, contrasting it with the government's focus on outcomes.

Answer from Jason Clare

The minister stated that legislation had been passed to cut student debt by 20 per cent, benefiting three million Australians. He noted that for someone earning $70,000, annual repayments would decrease by approximately $1,300. He explained that APRA and ASIC had updated guidance for banks to make it easier for those with student debt to secure mortgages. He estimated that a dual-income couple with student debt could borrow up to $150,000 more for a first home, combining these changes with recent tax and interest rate cuts.

Answer from Jim Chalmers

The Treasurer criticized the opposition's previous fiscal rules, claiming they led to higher taxes and deficits. He stated the government had improved the budget position, reduced debt as a share of the economy, and banked upward revenue revisions. He cited turning deficits into surpluses, finding $100 billion in savings, limiting real spending growth to 1.7 per cent, and reducing debt by $177 billion. He noted debt-to-GDP had fallen from 45 per cent to 37 per cent.

Answer from Andrew Giles

The minister highlighted the Free TAFE program, which had enrolled over 47,000 students in construction courses. He noted that construction apprenticeships had risen 11 per cent compared to pre-pandemic levels. He mentioned increasing the living-away-from-home allowance and doubling support for employers hiring apprentices with disabilities. He also cited $10,000 incentives for new housing construction apprentices, which had shown promising results after one month. He referenced the success of the new energy stream, which had trained over 11,000 people in clean energy fields.

Answer from Anthony Albanese; Jim Chalmers

The Prime Minister defended the Treasurer's record, criticizing the opposition's past failures to deliver surpluses and their election promises of higher taxes. The Treasurer added that the government had banked about 70 per cent of upward revenue revisions, compared to 40 per cent under the opposition and 30 per cent under the Howard government. He reiterated that the government had turned deficits into surpluses and reduced debt, contrasting this with the opposition's record of deficits and increased debt.

Answer from Clare O'Neil

The minister stated that 180,000 people had entered homeownership with government support and that the five per cent deposit scheme would be uncapped from 1 October. She noted that a million households had received a 45 per cent increase in Commonwealth rent assistance and 28,000 social and community homes were under construction. She highlighted that construction costs had stabilized, falling from 17 per cent annual growth to 1.6 per cent. She cited a 30 per cent increase in housing approvals year-on-year and recent announcements to pause the National Construction Code and fast-track environmental approvals for 26,000 homes.

Answer from Mark Butler

The minister acknowledged the fund's establishment by the previous government and noted that total medical research funding had risen to $11.2 billion annually, including NHMRC increases. He explained that the $650 million cap on MRFF allocations was a policy decision from the previous government. He stated that the debate over allocation levels would be part of a national plan for health and medical research, with a draft due soon. He also mentioned a 10-year statutory review of the MRFF conducted by the Treasurer and Finance Minister, which would be published shortly.

Answer from Amanda Rishworth

The minister reported that real wages had grown for seven consecutive quarters, the strongest annual growth in five years. She stated that over 1.1 million jobs had been created since May 2022, an 8.6 per cent increase. She linked housing supply measures to job creation in construction, noting that streamlining approvals would put more workers on sites. She highlighted Free TAFE for construction students and $10,000 incentives for apprentices completing their training.

Answer from Jim Chalmers

The Treasurer stated that foreign investment must align with national economic interests and that strict rules applied to agricultural land purchases. He noted that the current thresholds for US private investors were established by a free trade agreement negotiated by the coalition two decades ago. He mentioned an additional $16 million allocated in the 2024 budget to enhance monitoring and enforcement. He affirmed that the government would continue to analyze cases and ensure the FIRB system remained robust and protected national interests.

Answer from Jim Chalmers

The Treasurer highlighted falling inflation, which had allowed the Reserve Bank to cut interest rates three times in six months. He noted that real wages had grown for the seventh consecutive quarter and that unemployment had decreased, with 25,000 new jobs created in July. He stated that average unemployment was lower than under any government in the last 50 years. He also mentioned rising consumer confidence and the stock market reaching 9,000 points. He acknowledged ongoing pressures and structural issues but emphasized the positive economic trajectory.

Answer from Jim Chalmers

The Treasurer stated the government was working through the report in a considered manner and would publish it in due course. He highlighted progress in public sector reform, including the establishment of the National Anti-Corruption Commission and strengthened whistleblower protections. He noted improvements in board diversity, with over half of government board positions now held by women. He specifically mentioned that the Reserve Bank, Productivity Commission, and Treasury were all led by women for the first time.

Answer from Tony Burke

The Leader of the House detailed the opposition's repeated voting against or delaying housing measures. He cited the Housing Australia Future Fund (30,000 homes), Help to Buy (40,000 homes), and the build-to-rent program (80,000 homes). He noted that the coalition and Greens had teamed up to delay or oppose these initiatives multiple times. He highlighted that a disallowance motion against the build-to-rent program was currently before the Senate, arguing the opposition consistently voted against housing supply.

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister quoted the opposition leader's past comments on Palestinian statehood to criticize the question's tone. He stated that Australia continued to engage constructively with the United States, noting the Deputy Prime Minister was currently in the US meeting counterparts. He mentioned having three constructive discussions with President Trump. He emphasized that Australia's international engagement was bipartisan and focused on protecting national interests and sovereignty.

Answer from Chris Bowen

The minister reported a reduction in emissions of 612 million tons in the year to March, across all sectors except transport. He noted that 36,592 households had installed cheaper home batteries, with Gilmore having the highest uptake in New South Wales. He criticized the opposition's Canavan review and the introduction of an anti-net-zero bill by National Party and Liberal members. He stated that the government remained committed to climate action, contrasting it with the opposition's stance.

Answer from Anthony Albanese; Kristy McBain

The Prime Minister acknowledged the impact of climate change on weather events and mentioned recent changes to the RIC program to support resilience. The Minister for Emergency Management highlighted the $1 billion Disaster Ready Fund, with projects including levees and culvert upgrades. She emphasized the importance of both hard infrastructure and soft infrastructure, such as preparedness programs in local communities.

Answer from Michelle Rowland

The Attorney-General stated that attorneys-general had agreed on 15 August to toughen the system, ensuring that a ban in one jurisdiction applies nationally. She noted commitments to strengthen risk assessments, exclusion criteria, and a national continuous checking capability for real-time monitoring of criminal history changes. She mentioned a pilot by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and ongoing work to integrate state systems with a national hub. She emphasized that these reforms aimed to protect children and close loopholes.

Answer from Pat Conroy

The minister stated that the government was backing manufacturing and investing in renewable energy to improve reliability and cost. He criticized the previous government for leaving a 'graveyard' of energy policies. He mentioned funding set aside for smelters, the green iron fund, and $2 billion for the aluminium industry's energy transition. He emphasized collaboration with companies, unions, and state governments to address energy and trade issues.

Answer from Jason Clare

The minister reported that 37 childcare centers had been placed on notice for failing safety standards. He outlined new measures agreed upon by education ministers, including a national educator register, mandatory child safety training, a CCTV trial in 300 centers, a ban on personal mobile phones in centers, and more inspections. He stated the government was investing an extra $189 million in these reforms to build confidence in the system.