James Paterson says government's 1.2 million housing target ‘delusional'
Speaking on ABC's RN Breakfast, Liberal senator James Paterson said that while it was 'a good thing' to have targets, they had to be achievable.
'It's certainly a good thing to have targets and it is a good thing to be ambitious, but the ambition has to be realistic and achievable and not delusional and I think we're now getting into that level of delusion because a target of 1.2 million homes by 2029 would require the government to be building about 250,000 homes a year when only about 170,000 are being constructed, which is a fall from under the previous Coalition government of about 180,000 a year.'
'So we're going backwards not forwards, and it's time for either radical policy change to deliver those houses or acceptance that target is not going to be said as Treasury says.'
Senator Paterson's statement comes after advice from the Treasury was accidentally given to the ABC in a partially unredacted freedom of information release.
The advice warned that the 1.2 million home target 'would not be met'.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said on Monday the government would reach the target but acknowledged that it would need to 'do better'.
'Under current trajectories, we would fall short,' Mr Chalmers said.
'But that doesn't mean that between now and over the course of the next four years that we can't consider ways and work with the states and territories and others, local governments and others, on ways to build more homes.'
In the interview on RN, Senator Paterson was asked whether the Coalition needed to rethink its position on reducing net migration in order to bring in more skilled workers to help address housing shortages.
Senator Paterson said all of the party's policies were under review.
'Even in the last term, while we are arguing for overall reduced migration, we did say that one area that should be prioritised within the skilled migration program that would've continued was construction given the urgent national priority of building more homes,' he said.
Senator Patterson added that the Coalition had an 'ambitious' policy platform at the previous election on housing, including allowing first-home buyers to deduct mortgage payments against their income tax
Senator Paterson was also asked what areas the Coalition would look at to unlock land and increase development.
He said the party would explore supply on the boundaries of cities and within the existing 'footprint' of cities, which describes just about everywhere.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ABC News
44 minutes ago
- ABC News
Money Matters: Interest rates are on hold, here's how you can move forward
Your panel of experts, Nick Bruining, Phil George, and Gavin Hegney share their two cents. 02:28 Is it the right time to reset the amount you are salary sacrificing into superannuation? Nick says if you earn a decent income and use salary sacrificing, it might be worth checking those numbers. 03:20 Could the 'wealth effect' (when people feel better off, spending increases) be the reason why the RBA decided to keep interest rates on hold? 15:16 Your house is a deprecating asset, but the land value is high. Should you renovate it before you sell, or should you save the money assuming a future buyer might knock it down anyway? Money Matters is your weekly guide to the world of finance, money and wealth. Every Thursday, an expert joins Nadia Mitsopoulos on ABC Radio Perth for a insights about personal finance issues and how they might affect you. Subscribe to the podcast through the ABC Listen App, Apple Podcasts or wherever you like to listen
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Aussie apple farmers win against supermarket giants after China trade expanded
Apple growers across Australia will now be able to export the fruit to China's 1.3 billion population, in a move which will allow growers to be less reliant on supermarket giants. Previously China would only take apples from Tasmanian growers due to biosecurity concerns over fruit flies. However, the finalised deal, which was confirmed in April but officially signed during Anthony Albanese's trip to China, will allow mainland farmers to now also access the market. Apples and Pear Australia Ltd industry head Jeremy Griffith said the deal would give Aussie apple growers an 'extraordinary' opportunity,' with exports set to target a premium market. 'Horticultural sectors are very reliant on Coles and Woolies so any opportunity for the price not be dictated by Coles and Woolies is very important for growers,' he told NewsWire. Mr Griffith said increasing Australia's apple presence in China was a 'long-term' plan, and while some farmers will be ready to export following a February harvest, most will need to finetune the variety and qualities of the fruit. It's expected 'very red and very sweet' varieties such as Australian Pink Lady and Bravo apples will be well-received, in addition to Fuji apples. 'There can be lots of opportunities if you hit that a niche market but it's a very competitive global market,' he said. 'It's a very long term opportunity and we need to get this absolutely right.' Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said the deal was a 'significant milestone' for the $680m industry and the Australia-Chinese trading relationship. 'The Chinese market offers strong export growth potential for Australian producers with a large consumer base and premium price points for high-quality branded products,' she said. 'This outcome will support our agricultural industry to grow toward a $100bn sector, and the Australian horticultural sector to meet its target of $20bn by 2030.' However the Coalition has raised concerns as to why Mr Albanese was not able to cinch a similar deal for Aussie blueberry farmers. Coalition trade spokesman Kevin Hogan, who has been doggedly pushing for an outcome, criticised the slow process and said Thursday's news was a 'reannouncement' from April. 'The fact they're re-announcing apples is non-consequential because they announced that two months ago, so we were hoping that blueberries would get approved,' he said. 'Blueberries were formally placed on the government's priority list for market access years ago, with agreement from the Chinese government as part of negotiations to progress priority fruits from each country. 'Despite this, they remain locked out of the Chinese market.' However Labor says it has already removed trade barriers on lobster, wine, red meat and copper ores, totalling to $20bn of trade.
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
Albo fires back on China trip claim
Anthony Albanese has hit back against the Coalition's criticism of his 'indulgent' trip to China, accusing them of 'constant negativity' and a failure to acknowledge the importance of Australia's 'most important trading partner'. Liberal frontbencher James Paterson earlier said the Prime Minister's six-day trip was 'starting to look a little bit indulgent,' which he described as 'a Gough Whitlam history tour on the Great Wall of China' and questioned whether 'a visit to Chengdu to pose with some pandas, and whether a hit of tennis is strictly necessary'. 'I hope it's not for the Prime Minister's personal enjoyment,' Senator Paterson told Sky News on Thursday. 'I mean, the appropriate time to do a nostalgic history tour of Labor Party mythology is after you retire, in your own time, at your own expense, not on the taxpayer dime.' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese rejected the Opposition's criticism of his six-day China trip. NewsWire/ Joseph Olbrycht-Palmer Credit: News Corp Australia Sussan Ley also said she was 'disappointed' Mr Albanese 'didn't get the assurances that he should' about circumnavigation of Chinese navy warships in Australia, or the live firing exercises which were done without advanced notice. Asked for his response to the comment during a press conference in the city of Chengdu, Mr Albanese rejected the claims. 'I think the opposition have got some issues they need to sort out within themselves, including over the relationship with China,' he told reporters. He said China was Australia's 'most important trading partner', with one in four Australian jobs dependent on the relationship, and reiterated the importance of a stable relationship. 'They've just had an election result because in part, they themselves have characterised it as their constant negativity' and said the trip had been 'very successful'. 'They need to stop looking for reasons to say they're against and decide what they're for.' The opposition said Anthony Albanese's trip was 'starting to look a little bit indulgent'. NewsWire/ Joseph Olbrycht-Palmer Credit: News Corp Australia Mr Albanese also described Chinese President Xi Jinping as 'warm and engaging' and said China was a 'confident,' 'creative' and 'dynamic' country. Mr Albanese said he wanted to see Australia and China establish a 'stronger relationship' with 'more agreement and less disagreement' over the next three years, while acknowledging the two countries had different political systems, cultures and values. 'We have different values. So we understand that,' he said. 'What I'd like to see is to be able to talk about those issues regularly, get as much agreement as possible, but understanding of where our nations are coming from, out of understanding, can come greater co-operation.' Mr Albanese toured the Great Wall of China with Jodie Haydon on Wednesday. NewsWire/ Joseph Olbrycht-Palmer Credit: NewsWire Speaking after the press conference, Coalition education spokesman Jonno Duniam said while it was important to show 'deference to your host,' he questioned the value of the trip. 'We have our prime minister there on a multi-day trip, a range of high-level meetings with very little in the way of outcomes that can be perceived back here home in Australia,' he told Sky News. 'At the same time, we've got drills occurring in Taipei for potential and perhaps eventual invasion by Chinese forces of Taiwan's territory there. 'There's a lot of water to go under the bridge, but I'm failing to see the benefits of what you've don, or what will come from this visit.'
