QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:02): I'd make a couple of points in response to— Senator Cash interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Cash, you will recall I gave Senator Bragg the opportunity to start his question again because there was a lot of disruption, and the same equally now applies to Minister Wong when she answers.
Senator WONG: I believe Minister Ayres yesterday spoke to the Senate about the performance of housing construction over the last few years, and I think he made the point that almost 660,000 homes have been built nationwide since Labor was elected. more than 6,000 homes are being completed with Commonwealth investment, and over 23,000 are in planning and construction phases.
He also said—and this was the figure I was asking my staff to find, and I thank them for their assistance—that new home starts are up 26 per cent compared to a year ago. Senator Bragg: On a point of order on relevance, President, the question was clearly about the Housing Australia Future Fund, not about the private economy. The PRESIDENT: I allowed you the point of order, but I'll just check if the minister has concluded.
No. The minister is being relevant to the question, and I'll continue to listen carefully. Senator WONG: Senator, I would make the point to you that you in fact opposed the HAFF— Senator Cash: It doesn't matter; it still reads zero!
It doesn't change the fact— The PRESIDENT: Order! I remind the Senate once again that the minister is entitled to be heard in silence. Senator WONG: Not only did you oppose it, Senator, but I understand—it's the reporting—that Mr Taylor will commit to abolishing it; is that right?
I find it interesting that you care about a fund that you opposed and that you intend to abolish. It's a very interesting position to take—to be critical when you are in fact going to abolish it. But what I would say— The PRESIDENT: Senator Bragg?
Senator Bragg: I raise a point of order on relevance. The question was: has the HAFF built any houses in this financial year? The PRESIDENT: The minister is being relevant, Senator Bragg.
Senator WONG: As I said, we have a $47 billion Homes for Australia plan. It includes the HAFF. It includes a number of other elements.
What we have seen is an increase— (Time expired) The PRESIDENT: Senator Bragg, first supplementary?