QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (15:19): I thank Senator Bragg for the question. The government wants as many houses built as possible, which is why the government has put in place our $47 billion Australian housing plan, investing eight times more in housing than the coalition did in a decade.

It is why the government has now successfully passed legislation through the Senate that works to level the playing field for first home buyers by limiting negative gearing to new builds and by the reform of capital gains tax, which, as you and I have discussed on multiple occasions, Senator Bragg, will ensure that there are 75,000 more first home buyers over 10 years.

That's why we're investing $6.2 billion in local infrastructure for housing—again, 50 times what the coalition invested in enabling infrastructure—and why we have the five per cent deposit scheme helping more than 260,000 first home buyers, more than four times as many as the coalition helped in government. It is why we have the Help to Buy shared equity scheme, which is saving 40,000 workers up to 40 per cent off the cost of their own home.

It is why we have delivered 55,000 social and affordable homes, when the Liberal Party in government built 373. So it is very clear, Senator, that we want more investment in housing, we want more housing supply and we want to level the playing field for first home buyers, which is why we are pleased that the legislation has just passed the Senate—legislation you voted against.

I remind you, Senator Bragg, that you have again voted against tax cuts for working people. Tax cuts for working people is obviously something you don't support. The PRESIDENT: Senator Bragg, first supplementary?