QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:13): Thank you, Senator Bragg, and I do welcome your re-engagement in the Senate after— Opposition senators interjecting— Senator WONG: I'm wondering if they'd like the party room, to have this argument amongst themselves. I'm very happy to give them that time.

The PRESIDENT: Minister Wong, please resume your seat. Senator McKenzie? Senator McKenzie: The point of order is on relevance.

The minister's gone nowhere near the question. The PRESIDENT: Senator McKenzie, resume your seat. There is no point of order.

I've been trying to get order in the Senate. Minister Wong, please continue. Senator WONG: Senator Bragg, you know that this government— Senator Cash: Here we go.

Here's something. The PRESIDENT: Order! I have called for order in the chamber.

Minister Wong, please continue. Senator WONG: I'm very interested in the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate's taking such an effort to interrupt my answer to Senator Bragg. Senator Bragg, I'd like to answer your question.

The first point I'd make to you is that we are a government that has been very focused on increasing supply, and that is why we put in place a $47 billion Homes for Australia plan—almost 10 times more than your government did in a decade. That is why we have also changed the tax arrangements. We do not believe that our tax system should continue to be skewed towards investors rather than enabling first home buyers to have a fair crack at their own home.

I would also say to you, Senator, we have a situation where we have—through the range of things that we are doing, we are now seeing approvals up three years in a row, 8.9 per cent higher than a year ago and the highest level since 2021, and commencements are 15.2 per cent higher. (Time expired) The PRESIDENT: Senator Bragg, first supplementary?