QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
Senator AYRES (New South Wales—Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science) (15:49): Thank you to Senator Tyrrell for that question. I can only assume, following Senator Ruston's interjection, that I've been asked to answer a question just to get everybody to calm down a little bit. It's been a little bit noisy.
Poor old Senator Gatenby has only been here for a week! He has been trying to interject all afternoon, and you lot have been bellowing over the top of him. We want to hear the quality of his interjections over here!
We are really looking forward to an improvement in the quality of the interjections. This is a government that understands how important housing is to Australians and understands what has happened and what has changed the experience of Australians in terms of the way that they feel about their chances of getting their first home or getting a fair rental deal, getting the opportunity for the security of housing.
As a government we have delivered real change, no matter how tough it is. Opposition senators interjecting— Senator AYRES: I'll come to the policy development unit over there in a minute. It makes a real difference; it's real change for Australians—$47 billion housing package; five per cent home deposits; thousands of social and affordable homes constructed and thousands more on the way; tax changes that fundamentally change the housing market and mean that young Australians, for the first time in a generation— Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Ayres, please resume your seat.
My goodness, I am well and truly over the interjections. The rudeness shown, particularly by senators on my left, is quite extreme today. I've called you personally to order.
I invite you to leave the chamber. Quite frankly, I've had enough of calling you out. It is disrespectful to me as President.
Senator AYRES: I think the sound you just heard was my train of thought being derailed, President! I'll sit down and wait for the supplementary question. The PRESIDENT: Senator Tyrrell, first supplementary?