QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:03): We want people to own their own home. That's what we want, and that's what we've acted on. One aspect of your question, Senator Kovacic, is correct, and that is that we have said that we don't think that investors deserve the same effective subsidy from taxpayers that previously existed.

We don't think that it is fair to have a young Australian family trying to get their first home competing with an investor who's trying to get their fifth rental property, where it is the investor who is effectively subsidised by taxpayers. We do not think that is fair. We don't think it's good economics.

Investors can still gain access to— Senator Bragg: What about new builds? Why can't you add new builds? Why do you hate new houses?

The PRESIDENT: Senator Bragg, I've called you three times. Order! Stop the banter across the chamber from both sides.

Minister Wong, please continue. Senator WONG: I found Senator Bragg amusing, and now I've lost my train of thought. Senator Scarr: That was his cunning plan!

Senator WONG: It was his cunning plan; that's right. It made me laugh, and I've forgotten my train. The point is that we want more Australians to own their own home and we've acted accordingly.

(Time expired) The PRESIDENT: Senator Kovacic, second supplementary?