Sue Lines

The question now is that the motion to suspend standing orders be agreed to.

Penny Wong

I seek leave to move a motion relating to the consideration of legislation.

Leave not granted.

Pursuant to contingent notice of motion, I move:

That so much of standing orders be suspended as would prevent me moving a motion to provide for the consideration of a matter, namely a motion to allow a motion relating to consideration of legislation to be moved and determined immediately.

And I move:

That the question be now put.

Sue Lines

The question is that the question be now put.

Karen Grogan

The Senate will now consider the proposal, under standing order 75, from Senator Roberts, which has been circulated and is shown on the Dynamic Red:

Dear President

Pursuant to standing order 75, I give notice that today I propose to move "That, in the opinion of the Senate, the following is a matter of urgency:

The urgent need to address the failure of the Albanese government to fix home ownership for the next generation, with mass-migration adding to the 4.7 million non-citizens in the country, tax breaks being given to foreign corporate landlords like Blackrock under 'Build to Rent', foreigners continuing to buy Australian homes and red tape stopping tradies from building more."

Yours Sincerely

Senator Malcolm Roberts Senator for the State of Queensland

Is consideration of the proposal supported?

More than the number of senators required by the standing orders having risen in their places—

Malcolm Roberts

I move:

That, in the opinion of the Senate, the following is a matter of urgency:

The urgent need to address the failure of the Albanese government to fix home ownership for the next generation, with mass-migration adding to the 4.7 million non-citizens in the country, tax breaks being given to foreign corporate landlords like Blackrock under 'Build to Rent', foreigners continuing to buy Australian homes and red tape stopping tradies from building more.

The government has offered young Australians starting out in life two equally terrible options: either become a debt slave to the banks forever or rent from a foreign corporate landlord like BlackRock and never actually own a home. Successive Liberal-National and Labor-Greens governments—uniparty governments, that is—have failed to address the root cause of the housing crisis: mass immigration. Why would they do that? The answer is simple: necessity. After years of selling Australia out to their foreign masters, such as BlackRock Inc, Australia's domestic economy was performing so badly that immigration became the government's lifeline.

Australia has had negative per capita income for five successive quarters. What that means is that everyday Australians are going backwards. Their small pay rises do not compensate for inflation.

The reason the Australian economy as a whole is not in recession is the spending from new arrivals, as they furnish their homes and buy clothes, appliances and so on. This feeds on the GDP. But, per capita, we're in recession. It's economic sherbet. Once the sugar hit wears off, these new arrivals wind up in the same cost-of-living recession as Australians.

Instead of developing infrastructure, reducing red tape, reducing green tape, reducing blue UN tape and getting private employment going again, the government takes the easy way out: more migrants, and more, and more. Decades of mass immigration have led us to this place we are in today, where we have 4.7 million visa holders in the country who are not citizens of Australia. We now have absolute confirmation that neither Labor nor the Greens, the Liberals or the Nationals are capable of solving, nor can they be trusted to solve, the real cause of the housing crisis: mass immigration.

And it's a crisis. The latest CPI data shows that housing has now risen 5.9 per cent in the last year—an accelerating rate of increase. And electricity, by the way, went up 37 per cent, as those election bribes Labor gave you—sorry, electricity 'subsidies'—started to expire. According to CoreLogic, it now takes someone on the average wage 12 years to save for a home deposit on the outskirts of Sydney and 30 years to save for the deposit on a home close to the city—30 years, for a deposit! Servicing a home loan now costs 42 per cent of income. The point at which a mortgage is considered to be impaired used to be 30 per cent. That's insane! It's a tragedy for young Australians.

The blame for this rests squarely with the Liberal-National and Labor-Greens parties. You have taken the option of homeownership away from young people with your insane mass immigration and your net zero agendas. You, and you, have allowed foreign multinational corporations and superannuation funds to bid up the price of Australian homes, and you've stood idly by while young people have walked away from auctions in tears. Instead, you make cringeworthy TikTok videos. You make promises that are not and cannot be kept, because you run and hide from the real reasons for the crisis: the Ponzi scheme that mass immigration has become. You run and hide.

Here's what One Nation wanted this parliament to vote on today:

That, in the opinion of the Senate, the following is a matter of urgency:

The urgent need to address the failure of the Albanese government to fix home ownership for the next generation, with mass-migration adding to the 4.7 million non-citizens in the country, tax breaks being given to foreign corporate landlords like Blackrock under 'Build to Rent', foreigners continuing to buy Australian homes and red tape stopping tradies from building more.

Yet the other parties want to remove the facts, the data, from One Nation's motion. No-one wants to talk about the fact that there are 4.7 million visa holders—people who are not Australian citizens—in the country right now, all needing homes. No-one wants to talk about the tax breaks being given to foreign corporate landlords BlackRock Inc. No-one wants to talk about foreign ownership of Australian homes—no-one, except One Nation.

There is a reason why One Nation is the most trusted party in the country on the issue of migration—that's what the polls are saying quite clearly. The reason is simple: we care; they don't. One Nation will govern for everyday Australians. It's time for a One Nation government now.

Anne Ruston

The coalition is the party of homeownership. We want to see every single Australian—especially younger Australians—realise their dream of owning their own home. Labor has created the worst housing affordability crisis in decades, driven by an historic collapse in homebuilding and by record migration for which the government has completely failed to plan. It is Labor's failure to manage and plan for migration, and Labor's failure to deliver meaningful housing reforms—and that is what is impacting on housing availability today. When we're talking about a housing crisis in this country, we must focus on why we are here in this situation, and the real reason is clear: it is the mismanagement of the Albanese Labor government, it is Labor's uncontrolled migration policies that are reducing the availability of homes in this country, and it's the Prime Minister's red and green tape policies that are strangling new construction, driving the great Australian dream out of reach. This is urgent because it means many young Australians have lost hope of owning a home of their own.

Migration has always been central to our story. We are a migrant nation built on generations who chose this country and made it their home. But migration must be managed responsibly, with stable settings and long-term planning to ensure housing, jobs, services and infrastructure keep pace. While migration has ballooned, this government has overseen a historic housing construction collapse. Communities are feeling the strain, and the cost of poor planning is being carried by every single Australian, leaving many disappointed at the Prime Minister's lack of leadership. Locking in uncontrolled migration without addressing housing and infrastructure pressures is reckless, and, quite frankly, Australians deserve better.

However, we will seek to amend this motion so that the blame for Australia's housing affordability crisis is entirely sheeted home to the government. The failures of housing policy are not the fault of our migrant communities; they are the fault of the Albanese Labor government. That is why I am seeking leave to move an amendment circulated in my name that changes this motion to read:

"The urgent need to address the failure of the Albanese Government to fix home ownership for the next generation, with Labor's uncontrolled migration policies reducing the availability of homes and Albanese's red and green tape policies strangling new construction and driving the great Australian dream out of reach."

This amendment reflects the urgent need to address the failure of the Albanese government's immigration and housing policies. I seek leave to move the amendment.

Leave granted.

I move the amendment standing in my name:

Omit all words after "the following is a matter of urgency", substitute:

"The urgent need to address the failure of the Albanese Government to fix home ownership for the next generation, with Labor's uncontrolled migration policies reducing the availability of homes and Albanese's red and green tape policies strangling new construction and driving the great Australian dream out of reach."

Corinne Mulholland

Here we go again. We have the same right-wing politicians reaching for the same old political stunts. Once again, they're trying to use migrants as a political punching bag, the oldest and saddest trick in the book. It's not new, it's not original and history has shown over and over again that it is wrong. It is dead wrong. When those opposite in the coalition join forces with One Nation on their policy offerings, we know that they have nothing new to offer the Australian people. They are all out of ideas and desperately searching for relevancy. They're looking for someone to blame for their current situation, and, all too often, that someone to blame is a hardworking migrant family in this country. It is a tale as old as time, and we all know the truth.

The simple fact is that a dog whistle is just lazy politics. It's nothing more than a policy shortcut for One Nation and the coalition, who are not interested in doing the real work of governing in this country. If you cannot solve Australia's big challenges off the back of a bumper sticker, they're not interested. If you can't fix an issue by playing dress-up, they don't want it. If it takes showing up in this place day after day and doing the real policy work, they ain't interested.

We know that it takes real policy work, record investment and having all levels of government working together to solve the great challenges of our time. That is how we build the homes that Australians need after a decade of inaction under the coalition. That is how we are going to deliver ongoing cost-of-living relief. That is how we're going to build the infrastructure our communities need now and into the future. You're not going to get that on a bumper sticker. It takes hard work.

Senator Roberts knows this. He himself is a proud migrant to this country. He knows that migrants aren't the problem, and he knows the facts support this. Net overseas migration has declined by more than 40 per cent from 2022-23. Those opposite left migration teeming with rorts. We all remember the Liberal Party fundraisers during the last election. Peter Dutton was beside conversations, offering up golden tickets to wealthy investors. That's their record in migration—a record of rorts. Our government has restored integrity to the system while ensuring that there is a sustainable level that delivers the skills that we need.

New housing approvals are up by 15 per cent from this time last year. More new homes are being built right around Australia. Senator Roberts knows this, but he chooses to come into this place and move motions like this, aided and abetted by the coalition, in a race to the bottom. We have seen the coalition try and climb their way out of some pretty disastrous polling lately. We have seen them try and tear down the new Australians. That's not leadership; that is weakness.

I will come to an Essential poll that was released in the last couple of days. It asks who the best person to lead the Liberal Party in this country would be, and 14 per cent of people said opposition leader Sussan Ley.

Karen Grogan

Senator Bragg, do you have a point of order?

Andrew Bragg

I do. I fail to see how polling has anything to do with the motion at hand.

Karen Grogan

I think Senator Mulholland is definitely within the bounds of this motion, but I will remind Senator Mulholland to stick to the content.

Corinne Mulholland

Thank you, Acting Deputy President. I was interested that, in that poll, a whopping 45 per cent of people said they were unsure who should lead the Liberal Party, and a further 10 per cent said they just didn't know. It's not a real ringing endorsement, is it? But, rather than turning inward and doing the work in this place, they are seeking to move motions with One Nation. We've got the Acting Leader of the Opposition in the Senate speaking on this One Nation motion, we've got the shadow minister for housing speaking on this motion—

Matt O'Sullivan

Don't mislead the parliament!

Karen Grogan

And don't interject. It is unparliamentary.

Thank you, Senator Bragg. We will allow Senator Mulholland to complete her contribution in silence.

Corinne Mulholland

If Australians want an idea of what the modern Liberal Party in this country is looking like, look no further. They're coming in here, aiding and abetting One Nation on migration policies. But this motion, whether it be the amended motion or the original motion from One Nation, is not going to build a single home. While One Nation moves motions like this with the coalition, it's not going to help build a single home.

This government is getting on with the job. On the weekend, we announced the third round of HAFF funding to deliver more than 21,000 new social and affordable homes around Australia. Labor are building more homes, we are making it easier to rent and we are making it easier to get into your own home.

Long debate text truncated.

Sue Lines

I remind senators that yesterday evening after 6.30 pm a division was called on the motion moved by Senator Henderson proposing a reference to the Environment and Communications References Committee. I understand it suits the convenience of the Senate for the deferred vote to be held now. The question is that the motion moved by Senator Henderson be agreed to.

Katy Gallagher

I move:

That this bill be now read a third time.

Varun Ghosh

The question is that this bill be read a third time.

Penny Allman-Payne

I move:

(1) Schedule 3, item 2, page 31 (line 21), omit "20 September 2003", substitute "1 July 1991".

Statement pursuant to the order of   the Senate of 26 June 2000

Amendment (1)

Amendment (1) is framed as a request because it amends the bill to increase the period during which debts may relate for resolution payments under the Income Apportionment Resolution Scheme. This expands eligibility for resolution payments, in turn increasing expenditure under the appropriation proposed by Schedule 4 to the bill.

Statement by the Clerk of the Senate pursuant__to the order of the Senate of 26 June 2000

Amendment (1)

If the effect of the amendment is to increase expenditure under the standing appropriation proposed by Schedule 4 to the bill, then it is in accordance with the precedents of the Senate that the amendment be moved as a request.

Claire Chandler

The question is that the Greens request for an amendment on sheet 3490 be agreed to.

Penny Allman-Payne

by leave—I move amendments (1) to (4) on sheet 3489 together:

(1) Schedule 2, item 1, page 22 (lines 6 to 29), omit the item, substitute:

1 Paragraph 101(a)

Repeal the paragraph.

(2) Schedule 2, item 2, page 23 (lines 2 to 25), omit the item, substitute:

2 Paragraph 199(a)

Repeal the paragraph.

(3) Schedule 2, item 3, page 23 (line 27) to page 24 (line 19), omit the item, substitute:

3 Paragraph 1237AAD(a)

Repeal the paragraph.

(4) Schedule 2, item 4, page 24 (line 21) to page 25 (line 7), omit the item, substitute:

4 Paragraph 43F(a)

Repeal the paragraph.

Claire Chandler

The question is that amendments (1) to (4) on sheet 3489 be agreed to.

Sue Lines

I will now deal with the deferred vote relating to a proposed reference to the Senate Economics References Committee moved by Senator Roberts. The question is that the motion be agreed to.

Wendy Askew

At the request of Senator Bragg, I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 275 in the terms circulated.

Leave granted.

I move the motion as amended:

That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Housing, by no later than midday on Thursday, 27 November 2025, all documents related to the funding agreements secured and/or agreed concerning round 2 of the Housing Australia Future Fund.

Jess Walsh

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Sue Lines

Leave is granted for one minute.

Jess Walsh

The government will not be supporting this motion. Negotiations with states and territories and other housing delivery stakeholders are underway and are commercial-in-confidence—

Andrew Bragg

More secrecy!

Jess Walsh

It's very important that you listen. This OPD would compromise those negotiations. Furthermore, the original OPD had a compliance date of 7 pm tomorrow, Wednesday 26 November. Senator Bragg has amended the motion at the last minute to provide an additional 17 hours, which does not make a material difference to the unreasonableness of this motion. The short timeframe of this OPD means it would not be possible to comply with it. The number of OPDs has also doubled since the 2022 election, and the scope of these requests has expanded significantly. The Senate has agreed an average of four OPDs per sitting day—

Opposition senators interjecting—

I think people want me to slow down; that's what I'm hearing—in the 48th Parliament, double the average of two per sitting day in the 47th Parliament and almost four times the average in the last term of the coalition government. On 27 August the Senate agreed to 14 OPDs in a single day.

Sue Lines

Order, Senator Bragg! I've said 'Order!' three times. Not only are you incredibly disrespectful; it's an even bigger offence to call out and interject when you're not in your correct spot. That goes for people on my left, too, who were also interjecting. The question is that general business notice of motion No. 275, standing in the name of Senator Bragg, as amended, and moved by Senator Askew, be agreed to.

Wendy Askew

At the request of Senator Hume, I move general business notice of motion No. 270:

That there be laid on the table by the Minister for Industry and Innovation, by no later than midday on 1 December 2025, all ministerial submissions provided to the Minister for Industry and Innovation by the Department of Industry, Science and Resources, from 1 June 2025 to date which contain the phrase 'Tomago'.

Jess Walsh

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Paul Scarr

In relation to the request for leave, I wonder if the statement can simply be tabled or incorporated by reference, instead of us listening to the same statement again and again.

Sue Lines

Leave is granted for one minute.

Jess Walsh

The government will oppose this motion. A briefing has been offered on this issue that I understand has not yet been accepted. The OPD has an extremely wide scope and covers too many documents to comply with by this date. The number of OPDs has also doubled since the 2022 election, and the scope of these requests has also expanded significantly. I inform the chamber that the Senate has agreed an average of four OPDs per sitting day in the 48th Parliament, double the average of two per sitting day in the 47th Parliament and almost four times the average in the last term of the coalition government. On 27 August the Senate agreed to 14 OPDs in a single day.

Sue Lines

The question is that general business notice of motion No. 270, standing in the name of Senator Hume—

Senator McKenzie, can you just be quiet?—and moved by Senator Askew, be agreed to.