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Housing Affordability

Published on: March 2024

Record: HANSARD-1323879322-138983

Housing Affordability

Ms FELICITY WILSON (North Shore) (12:45:24):

My question is directed to the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces. The PropTrack rental affordability index, reported in Saturday's media, showed that 42 per cent of rental housing was affordable in 2021‑22 for median income earners. Under this Government, this has fallen to 28 per cent in 2023‑24.

Mr Chris Minns:

It is completely our fault. None of the legacy policies had anything to do with it.

Ms FELICITY WILSON:

I am not sure if this is a conversation or if I am meant to ask my question.

The SPEAKER:

Premier, I need to be able to hear the question.

Ms FELICITY WILSON:

Mr Speaker, shall I repeat the question?

The SPEAKER:

I would prefer you did not, but you can.

Mr Chris Minns:

You can't handle it.

The SPEAKER:

The member for North Shore will not engage with the Premier.

Mr Chris Minns:

Come on, focus on the job at hand. Try to get this question out. Maybe if you didn't block all affordable housing—

The SPEAKER:

The member for North Shore will repeat the question.

Ms FELICITY WILSON:

My question is directed to the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces. The PropTrack rental affordability index, reported in Saturday's media, showed that 42 per cent of rental housing was affordable in 2021‑22 for median income earners. Under this Government, this has fallen to 28 per cent in 2023‑24. When will the Minister admit that this Government has been a disaster for rental affordability in New South Wales?

Mr Chris Minns:

Get out of the way and start backing some of the housing plans.

Mr PAUL SCULLY (WollongongMinister for Planning and Public Spaces) (12:47:13):

— Well, it was not worth the wait, was it? It was not worth the wait. For those opposite who are not aware, I show you the record of your Government. This is the record of your Government. You may like to deny it as much as you want, but that is your record. It is your record, and your record, and your record, and especially your record.

Ms Felicity Wilson:

Point of order—

The SPEAKER:

The Minister will resume his seat. The member for North Shore rises on a point of order.

Ms Felicity Wilson:

Mr Speaker, there are a couple of standing orders I would like to bring to your attention. Firstly, could the Minister address his comments through the Chair? Secondly, could he please not continue to incite those responses from my colleagues? I would love to hear him answer calmly.

The SPEAKER:

I uphold both points of order.

Mr PAUL SCULLY:

For the past 12 years in New South Wales we have simply not built enough homes. We have not built enough homes. There is a simple equation here.

The SPEAKER:

Opposition members will come to order and allow the Minister to answer the question. I call the member for Hawkesbury to order for the first time.

Mr PAUL SCULLY:

It is called supply and demand. When you have more demand than you have supply, you get shortages and price increases. That is the record of the previous Government when it comes to housing. So, rather than coming into this place trying to argue that something which has been building up in New South Wales for more than a decade has suddenly happened in the past few weeks, the best thing that the member for North Shore could do is to get out of the way and let us get on with the task of delivering more homes.

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