QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator AYRES (New South Wales—Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science) (14:21): Thanks to Senator Pocock for that question. This is a government that has a bigger agenda in housing than any previous government. This is a government that is focused on the task of not just building and supporting the construction of homes in the private economy but delivering 55,000 social and affordable rental homes, 100,000 homes referred for first home buyers, and access to cheaper deposits for the workers that you point to.

I do wonder, if you're so concerned about the position of people like the worker that you refer to, where were you? The PRESIDENT: Minister Ayres, direct your answers to me, please. Senator AYRES: Where was she when it came to the Housing Affordability Future Fund legislation in this parliament?

The truth of that and the answer to that is that the Greens political party was with One Nation and the Nationals and the poor old Liberals, holding up progress once again. Senator Shoebridge interjecting— Senator AYRES: It is one thing for Senator Shoebridge to use the hyperbolic, bloviating rhetoric that he does— The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Ayres, please resume your seat.

Senator McKim interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator McKim, which part of 'Order!' doesn't apply to you? Order across the chamber. Senator AYRES: I mean, I'm always happy to be corrected on my grammar by the Liberals, that's for sure.

But it's one thing to criticise; it's another thing to just use wild rhetoric and get so wound up in your own ideology and your own partisan self-interest that you find yourselves blocking the building of homes with One Nation and the Nationals and the Liberals. You have truly lost your way as what passed for a suburban political force. (Time expired) Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: I'm waiting for silence in the chamber.

Senator Shoebridge interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Shoebridge, again, asking for silence somehow passes you by, does it? Come to order. Senator Pocock, first supplementary?