CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS

Ms WELLS (Lilley—Minister for Sport and Minister for Communications) (16:10): In my electorate of Lilley, on Brisbane's north side, too many people have been working hard and trying to save but feel that the dream of homeownership is just out of reach. That's why, since being elected, the Albanese Labor government is making it easier for people to buy their very first home.

Recently I received a letter from north side resident Dot about the real-life impact these changes are making in the lives of Lilley residents. Dot wrote: My 28-year-old daughter, Jackie, has recently purchased and settled in a home unit in Stafford as her very first home. As a young single woman who had worked and saved very hard, she had just about lost hope of entering the property market.

When the Help to Buy Scheme commenced, she decided to apply and was approved within two weeks. Whilst there were obstacles competing against investors and other first homebuyers like herself, she was lucky enough to find a seller who wanted to give a first homeowner a go. All this would not have been possible without the help of the many Labor state and federal policies that she took advantage of, those being the First Home Super Saver Scheme, the First Home Guarantee, the First Home Concessional Stamp Duty and most importantly, as mentioned, the Help to Buy scheme.

So this email is just to say thank you. We really appreciate all the implemented initiatives that have helped and, we hope, continue to help young Australians in the future. Dot will be pleased to know that we are not stopping there.

In the 2026-27 budget, our government changed property investor tax breaks to give first home buyers a fair go. Sandgate resident Dirk recently wrote to me about our budget measures. He said: I was so pleased to see the government's budget trying to improve housing affordability by taking some action on negative gearing and capital gains tax.

I am a bit surprised to see reports in the media of these reforms apparently not being "accepted" by millennials (of which I am one). The reforms perhaps aren't perfect but you are the first government in my living memory to take real action on this issue. So thank you.

I hope the government will stick to its guns amidst actual or media-perceived pushback. Also thanks for reforming student loans ('HELP debts') and getting these debts/payments more under control. Keep up the good work.

Rest assured, Dirk: the Albanese Labor government knows there is a lot of work to do to ensure that Australians get a fair go when it comes to securing a house of their very own. It won't be fixed overnight but we are making real progress. With my remaining time, may I indulge and say congratulations to Lucas Herrington, Brisbane's very own, who at 18 is the youngest-ever Socceroo to make his debut at the FIFA World Cup.

At the game at noon on Friday, not only was he able to debut at such a young age but, by the way he carried himself, he showed that he's clearly a big game player. I think he's from Toowong Football Club. On behalf of his very proud, I'm sure, parents in Brisbane, congratulations to Lucas Herrington, and the very best of luck to the Socceroos as they go up against Egypt at 4 am our time on Saturday.