Shadow housing minister calls for 6 percent drop in entry-level house prices
The Coalition's shadow housing minister said entry-level house prices should fall by at least 6 percent. He linked recent price increases to the government's 5 percent deposit scheme and called for more housing supply.
Shadow Housing Minister Andrew Bragg said entry-level house prices should fall by at least 6 percent. He attributed recent price rises to the federal government's 5 percent home deposit scheme. Bragg told 7.30 that a person on an average wage cannot access housing.
He said the focus should remain on affordability through increased construction rather than deposit schemes that are not means-tested or capped.
Scheme access Health Minister Mark Butler defended extending the Help to Buy Scheme to permanent residents who pay taxes. He said permanent residents are building careers and families and should have access to housing. Deputy Liberal Leader Jane Hume said the scheme should be limited to Australian citizens. She argued that subsidising housing with taxpayer funds is a privilege of citizenship.
US ambassador nomination A Senate committee voted 14-8 to endorse President Trump's nominee for ambassador to Australia. The nominee, a former Republican congressman, still requires full Senate confirmation. The nominee told the committee his priorities would include critical minerals, commercial diplomacy, defence cooperation, and partnership in the Indo-Pacific.
