Kara Cook
Bonner · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“That is Labor making a real difference to everyday Aussies. Building Australia's future also means backing the small businesses that keep our communities and local economies strong.”
“Tresiba is now listed for people living with type 1 diabetes, benefiting around 14,000 Australians, while reducing costs by up to $500 per pack. Rystiggo is now listed for adults living with generalised myasthenia gravis, with almost 5,000 Australians expected to benefit from treatment that otherwise costs up to $10,000 per pack.”
“In my electorate of Bonner, Labor's cheaper medicines policy has delivered 2.7 million cheaper scripts, putting more than $19 million back in the pockets of locals.”
“It is 1 July, and, from today, millions of Australians will be seeing the benefits of the Albanese Labor government's cost-of-living plan come into effect. Australians are receiving another tax cut.”
“One hundred and thirty-seven Medicare urgent care clinics will now be permanent, ensuring Australians can receive access to free health care close to home where all they need is their Medicare card, not their credit card.”
“Through Parent Pathways, he received support to obtain his drivers licence and began flexible work that allowed him to support his family while continuing with his caring responsibilities.”
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“If you're a small-business owner doing it tough, you don't have to face it alone. Help is available, and that is what we are here to deliver.”
“That is Labor making a real difference to everyday Aussies. Building Australia's future also means backing the small businesses that keep our communities and local economies strong. Bonner is home to more than 14,000 small businesses, and that's why the Albanese Labor government continues to fund the Small Business Debt Helpline, providing free, independent and confidential support to small-business owners and sole traders experiencing financial difficulty. Whether someone doesn't know where to start with their business debt, needs more help in negotiations with the ATO or is considering the future of their business, the helpline provides practical expert advice. Importantly, it also supports victim-survivors of domestic and family violence who have been left with business debts experienced through financial abuse.”
“Tresiba is now listed for people living with type 1 diabetes, benefiting around 14,000 Australians, while reducing costs by up to $500 per pack. Rystiggo is now listed for adults living with generalised myasthenia gravis, with almost 5,000 Australians expected to benefit from treatment that otherwise costs up to $10,000 per pack. Expanded access to Alecensa will benefit around 440 Australians with certain types of lung cancer, avoiding treatment costs of around $188,000 per course of treatment. Expanded access to Perjeta will help more than 3,000 Aussies with HER2-positive early breast cancer receive the treatment that they need. Labor is strengthening Medicare and making sure Australians can get the medicines that they need at just $25 for their scripts, or $7.70 with a concession card.”
“In my electorate of Bonner, Labor's cheaper medicines policy has delivered 2.7 million cheaper scripts, putting more than $19 million back in the pockets of locals. From 1 July, people in my community—and, of course, right across the country—have gained access to 10 new and expanded PBS listings, making more life-changing medicines affordable for everyday Aussies. Tezspire is now listed for severe uncontrolled asthma, with around 18½ thousand Australians expected to benefit from access to treatment that could otherwise cost up to $1,600 per injection. Neffy will provide a new needle-free option for children and adults at risk of anaphylaxis, with around 150,000 Australians currently accessing comparable treatments.”
“One hundred and thirty-seven Medicare urgent care clinics will now be permanent, ensuring Australians can receive access to free health care close to home where all they need is their Medicare card, not their credit card. Thirty-three endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics are open right now, providing the specialist care that women need and deserve. This is Labor delivering for all Australians.”
“It is 1 July, and, from today, millions of Australians will be seeing the benefits of the Albanese Labor government's cost-of-living plan come into effect. Australians are receiving another tax cut. Three million workers are receiving a pay rise, including an increase to the national minimum wage, because we want Aussies to earn more and keep more of what they earn. Workers will also benefit from payday super, which ensures superannuation is paid alongside wages, helping tackle unpaid super and grow retirement savings. Small businesses will have greater certainty with which to invest and grow, with Labor making the $20,000 instant asset write-off permanent. Paid parental leave is expanding to six months, with more support for families.”
“Since 1942, the Wynnum Manly Red Cross has supported people through disasters, emergencies and some of life's most difficult moments. Their trauma teddy program provides comfort to more than 1,400 people every year. The trauma teddies are a real team effort. Some of the volunteers I've met with are forming the bodies, and some of them do the little faces on the teddies. They're providing them to local police stations, local hospitals and charities to give people in those moments, particularly children, comfort during times of great distress. Thank you to all of our volunteers at the Wynnum Manly Red Cross. It's a real privilege to be involved with your organisation, and I absolutely love visiting you every couple of months to see the great work that you are doing.”
“In the last couple of weeks I visited some local schools, Belmont State School and Holland Park State High School, to speak with students about civics, democracy and the role of a federal politician. The questions that the students asked were incredibly thoughtful—some quite challenging—but also insightful about what's on young people's minds. I love being able to get out and about in the community, talking not just with the students but also with the teachers and principals who are all growing and developing the minds of our young people in Bonner. Finally, I also want to talk about some of our dedicated local volunteers. In Bonner, we have around 20,000 people who volunteer each and every year right across the electorate.”
“The Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron is a wonderful jewel in the crown of my local Bonner community, and it was great to see that spirit alive and well on the day. Events like this support our local businesses, attract visitors to the area and strengthen relationships between both the city and regional communities, like Bundaberg. Congratulations to everyone who was involved in that inaugural race. I hope to see it continue for many years to come. A healthy democracy depends on young Australians understanding how it works and knowing that their voices matter. That is why opportunities to engage with students in our roles as parliamentarians is so important.”
“Over the past few weeks, I've also had the opportunity to spend time with some wonderful schools, businesses, volunteer organisations and community organisations right across my electorate of Bonner, and I want to take a moment to share some of those stories with the chamber. It was a pleasure to attend—and it's the first time I've had the opportunity to do this—the inaugural Brisbane to Bundaberg Offshore Yacht Race. As someone who grew up sailing, it was a real honour to be there for that first inaugural race as the fleet departed from the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, just off the coast of Manly in my electorate. I know the dedication, teamwork and lifelong friendships that are built through the sport of sailing.”
“If companies want to operate in Australia, they must comply with the Australian law. The Albanese Labor government is also improving transparency for telecommunications consumers. From today, new industry standards require telecommunications providers to publish clearer, more consistent mobile coverage maps, making it easier for Australians to compare providers and understand the level of service they can expect. Providers will also be required to publish standardised information about network outages, giving Australians greater visibility when services are disrupted. These practical reforms put Australians first by ensuring consumers have the information and protections they deserve.”
“The Albanese Labor government's world-leading social media legislation was introduced because Australian families deserve to know that children's safety comes before the profits of multinational technology companies. More than five million under-16s' accounts have already been removed, deactivated or restricted, but some platforms are not doing enough. That's why the Albanese Labor government is strengthening the powers of the eSafety Commissioner and doubling the maximum penalty for companies that fail to comply from $49.5 million to $99 million. The commissioner will have stronger powers to require social media companies to provide evidence of what they are doing to keep under-16s off their platforms, because accountability only works when regulators have the tools they need to enforce the law.”
“Behind every one of those numbers is a family able to move forward with their lives with respect and dignity. Supporting Australian families also means helping parents to navigate a rapidly changing digital world. Every parent knows that raising children today is different from even five or 10 years ago. Smartphones, social media feeds and online platforms are available around the clock, and technology has created extraordinary opportunities for young people but it's also created unprecedented risks. That is why we are trying to protect children from things like cyberbullying, harmful content, online exploitation and algorithms that are designed to keep them scrolling.”
“Through Parent Pathways, he received support to obtain his drivers licence and began flexible work that allowed him to support his family while continuing with his caring responsibilities. Today he's working, he's able to provide for his children and he's planning to establish a community organisation to help others who have experienced hardship. That is what this opportunity looks like. As I said, it's not simply about finding a job but restoring dignity and giving people the opportunity to provide that support to their young families. More than 30,000 parents across Australia have now participated in Parent Pathways, including more than 6,800 in Queensland. In Bonner alone, over 200 parents have participated and are connected currently through the two sites in our electorate, in Mount Gravatt and Wynnum.”
“The parents that I met during the visit were glowing about their mentors, and one of the participants even started crying as she recalled to me the feeling of her mentor guiding her and coaching her through that process, restoring her confidence in herself, which then gave her the confidence to apply for roles and interview in a way that ended with her being successful for multiple opportunities. With a young family, it was the first job that she had had in years, and that relationship with her mentor shone through. Another story that stayed with me was of someone by the name of David who was experiencing homelessness and living in a park with his five children.”
“Support can include career guidance; help accessing child care, connecting with education and training or improving language and literacy skills; or assistance with practical things like work clothing, computers or getting a drivers licence. Importantly, Parent Pathways is entirely voluntary. Choosing not to participate does not affect any component of income support. I recently had the opportunity to visit ETC, one of the organisations delivering Parent Pathways, in Upper Mount Gravatt in my electorate of Bonner. Meeting with the mentors and hearing about their work was genuinely inspiring. The mentors absolutely love their jobs. Their role isn't simply helping people to find employment; it's about building confidence, listening without judgement and helping parents believe in themselves again.”
“Good governments remove barriers, create opportunity and give Australians the confidence to look to the future. That is exactly what the Albanese Labor government is delivering. For parents of young children, returning to study, training or work is not always easy or as simple as just updating a resume or applying for a job. That is why the Albanese Labor government created Parent Pathways, Australia's first voluntary pre-employment service for parents and carers of young children. Recognising that every family's circumstances are different, participants are matched with a qualified mentor who helps them identify their goals and build a pathway towards them.”
“Today I attended the Commonwealth Games farewell reception at parliament to wish former Moreton Bay Girls' College student Georgia Godwin all the best as she prepares to represent Australia in gymnastics. I know our whole Bonner community will be cheering her on. Sport is about much more than medals. It builds confidence, resilience and connection. It brings communities together, inspires young people and showcases the very best of our country. I'm proud that the Albanese Labor government is backing our athletes, backing our sporting system and backing the next generation of Australian champions.”
“Bonner is a community that loves sport. We're home to incredible local athletes, dedicated volunteers, grassroots clubs and some of the best sporting facilities in the country. Last week I joined the Minister for Sport at the Sleeman Sports Complex in Chandler to announce a record $513 million investment in high-performance sport over the next two years. This is a major investment in the future of Australian sport. It will support athletes across 68 sports, help cover the costs of training and competition, strengthen pathways for Paralympians and future para-athletes, and back more women into coaching and high-performance leadership roles. We heard from Bonner local and Paralympian Hani Watson, who spoke powerfully about what this support means for athletes with a disability and for growing participation in sport.”
“Those opposite have fought us every step of the way, but this government is making it easier for first home buyers to enter the market through the five per cent deposit scheme and investing in new housing supply, including 20,000 new homes exclusively for first home buyers in Queensland. For too long, our tax settings have encouraged competition over existing homes rather than building new ones. Our reforms to negative gearing and capital gains tax are designed to shift that balance and help first home buyers into— (Time expired)”
“Last week, I sat down with the Bonner Future Leaders Advisory Group and asked them a simple question: what did they think about the Albanese Labor government's housing reforms? They said the changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax were not an abstract tax debate but a sign that someone is finally taking seriously the challenge of getting young Australians into a home of their own. For their generation, housing isn't an investment strategy. It means moving into a home of their own and building a future. It is only a Labor government that is prepared to take meaningful action to make homeownership more achievable.”
“On a personal note, as someone who has sailed on the South Passage , can I say it is a wonderful experience for young people, and we really recognise his efforts. And last but certainly not least is David Westlake OAM, whose dedicated service to the Wynnum Manly community includes volunteering with the Wynnum Manly & Districts Men's Shed, serving as a Justice of the Peace and driving for the Lota Police Club school bus program since 1996. His commitment to helping others has touched countless lives across our community. I congratulate them all on this wonderful honour.”
“Today I rise to acknowledge three outstanding members of the Bonner community who have been recognised in the 2026 King's Birthday honours. These honours recognise Australians who have made an extraordinary contribution to their communities through service, leadership and dedication to others. This year Bonner is proud to celebrate Susan Bamford OAM, recognised for her outstanding service to netball as a life member of Netball Queensland. Susan's dedication to the sport has left a lasting impact on generations of players, volunteers and families. We also celebrate Cornelius Steenland OAM, recognised for his service to youth and sailing through his work with the iconic sail training ship, the South Passage . His efforts have helped young Australians build confidence, resilience and valuable life skills.”
“We also visited Yulu-Burri-Ba, where staff are delivering high-quality, culturally safe health care for our community and helping ensure people can access fully bulk-billed care close to home. Labor has doubled the number of bulk-billing GPs in Bonner over the last 12 months. These visits were a reminder that Medicare is not just about policy; it's about people. When Medicare works, people notice.”
“When Medicare works, people notice, not of because a headline or an announcement but because they can see a doctor when they need one close to home and don't have to worry about the cost. I recently welcomed the Minister for Health and Ageing, Mark Butler, to Bonner, where we visited two local healthcare services that are doing exactly that: the Carina-Carindale urgent care clinic and Yulu-Burri-Ba, one of our wonderful fully bulk-billed clinics. Both of these services are making a real difference to our local community. The Carina-Carindale Medicare Urgent Care Clinic is helping locals access free health care seven days a week, with no appointment necessary. It's one of the 137 clinics Labor has delivered nationally. It's already had over 5,000 patients through the door.”
“We know that people are under pressure, and we know that global events are having an impact here at home. We also know that Australians expect more from their government than just commentary from the sidelines. That is why we are delivering real tax cuts for workers and backing higher wages. It's why we are making medicines cheaper and making urgent care clinics permanent, as well as ensuring there are more bulk-billing GP practices. It's making sure that if you work hard, look after your family and contribute to your community you have the chance to genuinely get ahead. That is exactly what this Albanese Labor government is committed to—today and every day.”
“We're also reforming the tax settings so that more investment goes into building new homes instead of simply pushing up prices on homes that are already there. Housing is not an abstract policy in my community; it is about whether young people can move out of home. In Queensland, we are seeing 20,000 homes that are being built exclusively for first home buyers. While Australians and working families are under pressure at the moment, we have ensured that we are delivering for them. We are investing more in things like aged care, we are funding permanent urgent care clinics, we are supporting community housing for young people at risk of homelessness and we are making sure that the child support system is safer and fairer so that single parents and their children get the support they are owed.”
“They deserve fair pay, and they deserve a government that backs them every step of the way. We know that, for many families, one of the biggest cost pressures is health care. That is why we are making medicines cheaper with $25 scripts, and it's why we are building more urgent care clinics. Two have opened in my community of Bonner, with the Carina-Carindale and Capalaba urgent care clinics now open and having serviced over 10,000 people already since they opened their doors. These are practical changes that are making a real difference. When it comes to housing, the Albanese Labor government is taking that challenge seriously. We set a target of building more than 1.2 million new homes. We are helping more Australians buy a home with lower deposits, and we are supporting more housing supply.”
“Labor believes that, if you work hard, you should be able to earn more and keep more of what you earn. That is what Labor stands for. But cost-of-living relief is not just about tax cuts; it's also about wages. Since coming to government, the Albanese Labor government has backed higher wages for nearly three million workers. Many of those are Australia's lowest paid workers. Real wages have been growing, and the national minimum wage has now risen to over $12,000 a year since we came to office. That matters enormously in my community of Bonner, where so many people do work in child care, aged care, retail, hospitality and other essential industries. These are the people who care for our children and for those who are most vulnerable in our local community.”
“Labor has delivered tax cuts for every taxpayer, and we are going further through this budget that has just been handed down, with $250 working tax offsets as well as the $1,000 instant tax deduction to make tax time easier for so many of our local workers. Taken together with the tax relief we have already delivered, we have now cut income taxes five times in five different ways, putting nearly $3,000 a year back into the pockets of a worker on average earnings by 2028. That matters in Bonner. It matters to nurses heading home after a long shift, it matters to the tradie filling up at the local petrol station, and it matters to the retail workers, teachers, childhood educators and the aged-care workers trying to keep up with bills while still trying to get ahead.”
“People in my community of Bonner know that cost-of-living pressure is real, and, at times like this, people expect their government to step up with practical help. That is exactly what the Albanese Labor government is doing. We are delivering tax relief for workers, we are backing higher wages, and we are making things like medicines cheaper. We are strengthening Medicare and helping more Australians into housing, because our priority is clear—helping Australians with the cost of living while building a fairer economy for the future. For people in my community of Bonner, one of the clearest things we have delivered is tax relief.”
“And the answer is so simple: they will never, ever be on the side of hardworking Australians. They never will be, because they are more interested in their politics than in your family. They are more focused on themselves than on cost of living. They are divided, they are dangerous, and it will be everyday Australians who pay for their dysfunction. We are a government that is on the side of working Australians. This government was elected to make life better for ordinary working people, and not one day has passed when we haven't been doing exactly that. We are focused on cost of living and delivering for them. Those opposite are focused only on themselves.”
“The result is that the minimum wage has gone up 30 per cent since we took office. For the first time in this country's history, the national minimum wage will be above $1,000 a week. Let's be honest about who's fighting us every single step of the way: those opposite, the same people who left us with a trillion dollars of debt, the same people who at the last election wanted to increase taxes on ordinary working Australians. I mean, you can't make this stuff up. And what was that to pay for? It was to pay for taxpayer-funded lunches for bosses and nuclear reactors that would push power prices up, not down. They have opposed our tax cuts, they have opposed our wage rises and they have opposed the very cost-of-living measures that are putting money back in people's pockets right now. You have to ask yourself why. Why would they do this?”
“That is combined with three rounds of tax cuts. The average Australian worker will be $2,800 better off under this Labor government. We have made medicines cheaper. We have invested in bulk-billing. We have made Medicare urgent care clinics a permanent part of our healthcare system, so, when your kids need care, you can get it without worrying about the cost. We are tackling housing, with over $47 billion in our Homes for Australia Plan, supporting 75,000 more Australians into homeownership and enabling tens of thousands more new homes to be built. We've halved the fuel excise because we know that, when you fill up at the tank to get to work, every cent counts. And we have backed Australian workers every single Annual Wage Review, five years in a row. That's five years of standing up and saying that workers deserve a real wage increase.”
“It's not tinkering, and it's not talking; it's the most substantial overhaul of our taxation system in a generation, and we've done it while managing the budget responsibly, strengthening Medicare and helping with the cost of living at the same time. In health, in housing, in wages and in tax—in every single area that matters to a family who is sitting around a kitchen table—we acted. We have delivered tax cuts for every Australian taxpayer, not just for the top end of town or big donors but for every worker who gets up every single morning and does their job. They are the ones who deserve to earn more and keep more of what they earn. On top of that, we today have passed legislation for the $250 working Australians tax offset as well as the $1,000 instant tax deduction, because workers deserve a fair go in the taxation system.”
“When Labor came to office in this place, we didn't inherit a clean slate. We inherited an absolute mess: a trillion dollars of coalition debt, huge deficits, inflation biting and real wages going backwards. That was the coalition's legacy. And that is what those opposite—a few less are here, actually—left behind. And you know what their response was when we started cleaning it up? They voted against us every single time. Labor got to work because that is what Labor does. We recognised that people were under real pressure, and we took action. Labor has delivered the most significant tax reforms in more than a quarter of a century.”
“The Albanese Labor government is investing up to $41.6 million through the infrastructure grants for multicultural communities program, so I encourage all of our multicultural communities to look at the grants portal and get involved in this wonderful opportunity. Grants from $20,000 right through to $1.5 million are available to support our multicultural communities locally.”
“There is something incredibly special about witnessing people officially become Australian citizens, taking the pledge surrounded by family and community after what has often been a long journey to call this country home. Becoming an Australian citizen is about more than paperwork; it is about belonging, it's about becoming part of our community and it's about helping shape the future of the country that we all share together. Australia's strength has always been its diversity—people who bring their cultures, languages, stories and experiences and help build the social fabric of our community. In Bonner, we are incredibly fortunate to have such a vibrant multicultural community. That is I why want to highlight an incredible opportunity for our local multicultural organisations.”
“A single oyster can filter more than 150 litres of water every single day, improving water quality, supporting marine life and helping create healthier ecosystems right across the bay. The project is also creating opportunities for local volunteers to get involved in protecting and restoring our waterways. I want to thank OzFish and the volunteers for the incredible work that they do. This is what practical environmental action can look like, thanks to the Albanese Labor government. It was a privilege to recently welcome almost a hundred of our newest Australians at a citizenship ceremony hosted by Kairali Brisbane at the Mount Gravatt Showgrounds. It was a celebration of belonging, community and new beginnings.”
“If you've ever enjoyed a fresh oyster at a Brisbane restaurant, there is a good chance that that shell ended up at OzFish, helping restore the reef in Moreton Bay in my electorate of Bonner. Recently, the Minister for the Environment and Water, Murray Watt, joined me at OzFish to mark the delivery of Labor's $1.5 million commitment to support oyster reef restoration in Moreton Bay. For communities across Bonner, Moreton Bay is more than a beautiful backdrop; it is where locals fish, kayak, boat and spend time with family and friends. It is also a vital natural environment that our community values deeply. OzFish is taking recycled oyster shells, placing them in specially designed baskets and returning them to Moreton Bay to rebuild natural reef habitats. These oysters are very hard workers.”
“This is the government that we are—a government that cuts taxes for workers, that makes tax time simpler, that fights for first home buyers, that invests in new homes and that goes to the Fair Work Commission and argues for the lowest paid workers to get a fair go. That is not about punishing success. It's not about politics. It's about something more important than that: it's about our core values and it's about making sure that in Australia, if you work hard, if you save and if you contribute, we want you to earn more and keep more of what you earn.”
“These are the people who show up, who work hard and who keep this country running. For too long, their wages have not kept pace with the cost of living. This government went to the Fair Work Commission and argued for an above-inflation pay rise for the lowest paid workers in this country, something that those opposite have never done. That is what we do as the Labor Party: we fight for those who need it most. And that runs through everything we are doing—a fairer tax system, more pathways into homeownership and wages that actually reflect the contribution working Australians make every single day.”
“Importantly, we are cutting regulatory costs across the economy by $10.2 billion and removing 497 nuisance tariffs to reduce compliance costs for business. This morning the Fair Work Commission handed down its annual wage ruling, and it is good news for working Australians. From 1 July, the minimum wage rises by 5.97 per cent, to $26.44 an hour, and award rates rise by 4.75 per cent. Nearly three million Australians will see that reflected in their pay packet. Who are those three million Australians? They are disproportionately women. More than half are casual employees. More than a third are low paid. They work in aged care, in child care, in retail, in hospitality. In Bonner, we have more than 1,200 people working in aged care and over a thousand working in the childcare sector. This will be a pay rise for them.”
“Importantly, many Australians may pay the same amount of tax or, in some cases, even less depending on circumstances such as inflation, rates of return and how long assets have been held. These reforms also protect important concessions for small business, including capital gains tax concessions. In Bonner, we have more than 5,000 small businesses in our community, employing locals and supporting our local economy. These local businesses will benefit from the practical support this budget delivers, including $3.5 billion in new business tax relief and making the $20,000 instant asset write-off permanent. We are also making the two-year loss carry back permanent, supporting startups, delivering tax relief for sole traders and reducing red tape through a new 'tell us once' approach.”
“They understand that, if we want the next generation to thrive, we cannot simply continue with settings that leave too many behind. They understand that reform is not always easy, but sometimes it is absolutely necessary. These bills also reform capital gains tax by returning it closer to its original intent. Again, I want to speak plainly about what this means. There has been a lot of misinformation, and Australians deserve facts. Firstly, we are not introducing a tax on inheritances or inherited assets. That claim is simply false. Secondly, this reform ensures Australians are taxed on the real gains they make, not inflation driven growth. Under the reforms, the base cost of assets will be indexed. In simple terms, tax will better reflect actual profit. That is a sensible principle, and it is a fair principle.”
“That is not an alternative; it is a step backwards, just like their appointment of Tony Abbott as president of the Liberal Party last week. They are not just determined to send their own party backwards; they want to send all of Australia backwards. Despite what some headlines might suggest, many people in Bonner are telling me that they support reforms aimed at making the system fairer and helping young Australians get ahead. I heard from Lee in Carindale, who wrote to me saying: Thanks for your action on housing in the recent Budget! Well done! Younger people I'm sure will be most appreciative. Tony, another local resident, said: Stick to your guns. This budget has taken the right path … I think those comments reflect something important. People in my community understand that young Australians deserve a fair chance.”
“While this government is focused on fixing the problem, the opposition have made a different choice. They have said that they will fight these reforms. They have been clear: if they win the next election, they will reverse them. Those opposite are not just opposing the solution; they are promising to recreate the problem. They would take taxpayer dollars and use them to subsidise property investors over first home buyers. They would wind back the five per cent deposit program, saying to the 515 people in my community of Bonner that they don't get to own their own home. They would scrap Help to Buy. They would slash social and affordable housing programs. They even want to scrap housing targets and the reform that sits underneath them.”
“Under these bills, future negative gearing arrangements will focus on new builds. And I want to be really clear about what that means. Existing arrangements remain in place for current property owners. People who have made decisions under the current rules are protected. There is no retrospective change. But, for future investment, incentives will be targeted towards increasing housing supply because, if negative gearing is going to be supported through the tax system, it should support the building of more homes. It should help increase supply. It should help Australians compete for more housing, not simply compete harder against one another for the same housing stock. If we are serious about affordability, we have to be serious about building more homes.”
“Approvals slowed, land releases stalled, and the construction industry fell behind. The result was a system that made it harder and harder to build the homes Australians needed. Then, in 1999, the Howard government introduced the capital gains tax discount, a decision that compounded every one of those supply failures. It was designed to drive investment into the share market. Instead, it made established residential property the most attractive, low-risk investment in the country, and investors flooded in. Today, more than 80 per cent of investor lending flows into existing homes rather than new construction. A generation ago, buying a home cost around three times what the average Australian earned in a year. Today, that ratio is more like eight times. That is the situation that Labor inherited, and that is what these bills begin to fix.”
“Too many families are worried about whether or not their children will have the same opportunities that they did. Labor does not simply accept that as the reality. Housing is not an abstract economic debate. It is fundamental and should not become a privilege reserved only for those already ahead. There was a time when homeownership was simply what happened if you worked hard and saved. It was within reach, and it was expected, and governments at every level understood their role in keeping it that way by building homes, investing in communities and making sure that supply kept up with demand. Over the course of decades, governments retreated from building. At the same time, the rules around private construction became so layered and complex that getting a home built became an achievement in itself.”