CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS

Mr GORMAN (Perth—Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Assistant Minister for the Public Service and Assistant Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) (09:39): Every Australian deserves a place to call home, and that is what the Albanese government's budget delivers. Our $47 billion Homes for Australia plan and our budget provide for even more homes, more support to renters and more support for Australians getting into homeownership.

In Perth, we're getting on with the job on the ground. I was at the Pier Street development with the Prime Minister and the Premier of Western Australia just a few weeks ago, seeing 219 apartments that are being built because of the decisions of this government rising 29 storeys out of the ground. Then, further down the road, on Stirling Street in Highgate, we have Stirling Towers.

It was closed by the former Barnett Liberal government and sat vacant for years, but, again, because of decisions of this Labor government, we have homes being built—affordable homes, specialist disability homes. This will bring even more people into Highgate and the wonderful Beaufort Street strip. Then, just above the METRONET City Link project, we have the Roe Street development, with another 170 social and affordable homes.

All of these projects are happening because of decisions that we have taken in government over the last four years. I also got to see the opening of Common Ground in East Perth, an extraordinary project that helps some 112 people go from the challenges of insecure housing or homelessness into a secure place to call home. That makes a real difference to every single one of those people.

What we also know is that those who are doing all the right things—they're working hard, they're saving, they're trying to get their first home—are struggling, and that's where our five per cent deposit program comes in. I recently had a chat to Kate, who's a pastry chef at Miller + Baker, which is a wonderful cafe and bakery in the Perth electorate. She's done everything right, but we know that, when trying to find that path into the housing market, it takes the average Australian 11 years to save for a deposit.

I'm pleased that our five per cent deposit scheme is helping people make that final step into the housing market. It has supported more than 300,000 Australians to build or buy their own home, including some 2,058 people in the electorate of Perth. One of the things I love doing in this place, as I know do you, Deputy Speaker Sharkie, is to bring the words of our constituents into this parliament.

After the budget, I received this email from Perth constituent Sebastian, who said: Dear Patrick, I'm writing to actually thank you for standing up for young Australians. That means a lot as someone who will soon be entering the housing market to buy their first home. You have stood up against all odds and delivered a fair budget and budget that will make long term change for the better.

I bet your team and you are receiving countless emails saying this isn't enough or asking to revert the changes, but I want to say this from the bottom of my heart thank you. My partner and I felt the weight lift off our shoulders. I know it will take time to have an effect, but it's a change for the better … Kind regards, Sebastian.