STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Ms KARA COOK (Bonner) (13:59): Last week, I sat down with the Bonner Future Leaders Advisory Group and asked them a simple question: what did they think about the Albanese Labor government's housing reforms? They said the changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax were not an abstract tax debate but a sign that someone is finally taking seriously the challenge of getting young Australians into a home of their own.

For their generation, housing isn't an investment strategy. It means moving into a home of their own and building a future. It is only a Labor government that is prepared to take meaningful action to make homeownership more achievable.

Those opposite have fought us every step of the way, but this government is making it easier for first home buyers to enter the market through the five per cent deposit scheme and investing in new housing supply, including 20,000 new homes exclusively for first home buyers in Queensland. For too long, our tax settings have encouraged competition over existing homes rather than building new ones.

Our reforms to negative gearing and capital gains tax are designed to shift that balance and help first home buyers into— (Time expired) The SPEAKER: In accordance with standing order 43, the time for members' statements has concluded.