PM unveils $11 billion housing package

At a new housing estate in Launceston. It’s part of it here too, with a pledge to get a roof over the heads of more Australians. My government has been very focused on housing supply, More homes to rent, More homes to build, More homes for Australians who need it. But the claim $11.3 billion more is being spent to patch up the housing crisis doesn’t stack up, according to some. Today we see repackaged reheated. Money that’s already been announced. The package includes 9.3 billion to roll over an agreement with the states on tackling homelessness for another five years. The risk was that they were going to decrease, so we’re happy to see that those resources continue. And after growing calls for action, there’s $1 billion to increase crisis accommodation places for women and children fleeing domestic violence. A welcome boost, but the Greens say this money was secured last year in negotiations with the government. Frankly, it’s a drop in the ocean compared to what’s needed. There’ll still be 10s of thousands of women turned away every year fleeing family and domestic violence. What the sector says is new funding $1 billion for infrastructure like roads, pipes, poles and wires. We hear too often that housing is delayed because we don’t have the critical infrastructure ready to go. The Prime Minister strongly hit back at suggestions from the Greens and opposition that his government is trying to make old announcements new again. Well, they’re full of nonsense, aren’t they? The truth is that this is additional money, a fight on the home front that will only grow with the budget three days away. Eliza Edwards, 9 News.