STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Mr GOSLING (Solomon) (13:53): This federal budget is about the aspiration of everyday working Aussies. If you are trying to get into your own home, this is a budget for you. If you're a worker, you're receiving your fifth tax cut under this government because we want you to earn more and to keep more of what you earn.

If you're a young person, this is a government for you, supporting you with free TAFE and less HECS debt. If you're a small business trying to get ahead and make an investment, this budget is for you, with a permanent instant asset write-off to help you grow your business. This budget is about the aspiration of Australians trying to get ahead, and nowhere is that aspiration more important than in the housing market, where we have had so many young Australians who have had trouble getting into the housing market, often crowded out by professional property investors.

Currently, negative gearing arrangements are grandfathered, and that will continue, but negative gearing remains for new builds, and that's great. That's great for supply. But the reforms in this budget will help young Australians by providing a fairer go at the Australian dream of homeownership.

With our government's five per cent deposit scheme for first home buyers, more than 1,350 people in my electorate of Solomon have purchased their first home.