Tuesday, 28 May 2024

Housing

John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:08): My question is to the Premier. In October 2023 the Premier said that the government would ‘build 80,000 homes a year, each and every year’. This month at PAEC the Secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet backflipped on this commitment, saying, ‘80,000 a year. That is not the commitment.’ Has the Premier’s promise to build 80,000 homes a year each and every year been scrapped?

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:08): I thank the Leader of the Opposition for an opportunity to talk about how it is only those of us on this side of the house who are committed to building more homes for more Victorians. It does not matter what number the Leader of the Opposition commits to; he stands on the back of trucks in his own electorate and continues to oppose important housing development.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, both this and the earlier question were questions that asked the Premier about her own words, and I would ask you to bring the Premier back to the question.

The SPEAKER: I ask the Premier to come back to the question.

Jacinta ALLAN: The position that was released in the housing statement in September of last year remains the position of the government today. We have set a very clear target to build 800,000 homes across the state over the decade ahead. What would assist us greatly in building these homes would be to have the support of the Liberal Party, the National Party –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! Members will be removed from the chamber without warning.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, the question was clearly whether the Premier promised to build 80,000 homes a year. Perhaps the Premier misunderstood the question, but the question was about 80,000 homes a year.

The SPEAKER: The Premier was being relevant to the question that was asked.

Jacinta ALLAN: Of course to achieve that we are using every lever possible we have as a government to build more homes. The planning minister is working incredibly hard through the development facilitation program, where we have already announced a number of projects. More than 1100 properties have been supported through that program to date, and there are something like 33,000 in the pipeline.

Just last week we were in Victoria Gardens, where we announced, through the support from the planning minister, the investment of more than 700 properties at Victoria Gardens, representing a $700 million investment here in the state of Victoria. So not only is building more homes great for Victorians who need affordable, accessible housing right across the state; it also represents an investment in the Victorian community. Of course our investment levels are also up 6 per cent compared to the rest of the nation, and it is supporting jobs as well. That is why we are going to get on and continue our focus on building more homes for more Victorians right across the state.

John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:12): Will 80,000 homes be built this year in Victoria?

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:12): As we have said on a number of occasions, we know that we need to build more homes for more Victorians. We know that not enough homes are currently being built. We know that the recent ABS data that has been released shows that Victoria is now leading the nation in building approvals to build more homes, but we know we have more work to do. If the Leader of the Opposition really wants to support us in building more homes, he can support the –

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, the question could not have been simpler and clearer, and I would ask you to bring the Premier to the very, very simple question.

The SPEAKER: The Manager of Opposition Business knows I cannot tell the Premier how to answer a question. The Premier was being relevant to the question.

Jacinta ALLAN: If the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Brighton want to support the achievement of building 800,000 homes over the next decade, get on board and support housing developments in each and every one of your communities instead of blocking them.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, may I take you to page 152 of Rulings from the Chair and the ruling from Speaker Madigan of 31 March 2004. In effect, the Chair ruled that ministers do not have an opportunity to answer a question in any way they like. I would put to you that the Premier has not even considered the question in dealing with the response, and I would ask you to bring the Premier back to the question.

The SPEAKER: Manager of Opposition Business, it is still the case that the Chair cannot direct a minister or the Premier how to answer a question. The Premier was being relevant to the question.

Jacinta ALLAN: We will continue to work very hard to support the building of more homes across the state. What we will not do is demonise migrants choosing to live here in Victoria. We will not demonise, like the Liberal Party are doing, migrants choosing this state, who bring jobs and opportunity.

John Pesutto: On a point of order, Speaker, the Premier is casting an imputation, and I ask her to withdraw it.

The SPEAKER: I will rule on this. You cannot withdraw an imputation. There is no point of order. The Premier has concluded her answer.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, under standing order 120, I object to the words the Premier used.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! Question time is not an opportunity for members to throw abuse across the chamber at each other. On your point of order, Manager of Opposition Business, I am not quite sure which words you are referring to. Therefore I cannot rule on your point of order. If you have further issue with the point of order that you have raised and you wish to raise it further, I am happy to see and speak to you after question time in my office.

James Newbury: To assist the Speaker –

The SPEAKER: The Speaker does not require assistance, Manager of Opposition Business.