QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:36): I think this question was asked last week—or a version of it was. The point I made then was in fact that we saw approvals up three years in a row, 8.9 per cent higher than a year ago and at their highest level since 2021, and commencements are also 15.2 per cent higher.
Senator Bragg: I raise a point of order on relevance. I asked about home loans and homeownership opportunities, not about approvals. The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Senator Bragg.
Senator WONG: It's interesting that Senator Bragg doesn't want to hear about that, because what it actually means is that there are— Senator Cash interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator WONG: What it actually means is that there's more investment in supply. I know that's something you don't want to hear about, Senator Bragg.
The advice I have is that the figures I've just given you demonstrate that there is more investment in supply and more commencements. I'd also make the point that I'm advised that there are in fact more first home buyers under our government than there were under you, that there are more than 490,000 first home buyers under Labor— Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order!
Senator WONG: The advice I have is that loans taken out by first home buyers are on the increase, and about 260,000 Australians are in their own home using just a five per cent deposit. And I would remind you, Senator Bragg— Senator Cash interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Cash!
Senator WONG: I know Senator Cash simply wants to interject. The reality is they don't want more investment in new homes. They don't want more investment in new housing because they just want the market to rip, and they're happy to be on the side of investors rather than first home buyers.
They are actually the values on display here. Senator Cash is yelling at me because she cannot abide the fact that, under our government, we are actually investing in new supply for first home buyers so more young Australians can get into the market—you can't handle that, can you? (Time expired) The PRESIDENT: Senator Bragg, first supplementary?