David Speers:
Joining us now is the Assistant Treasurer, Michael Sukkar. Michael, thanks for joining us. Some of your colleagues have been particularly critical of Queensland’s border closures. Has Annastacia Palaszczuk got it right today?
Minister Sukkar:
Well, David obviously we welcome the decision today and I note that the Premier of New South Wales has welcomed that decision. We think that it’s a good step as is the safe travel zone with New Zealand. It’s a good first step and as you have outlined, there’s a long way to go particularly given that this first step only allows New Zealanders to travel to Australia but at least it’s a step in the right direction.
David Speers:
Just explain to me the thinking on that. Some might wonder why we’re allowing New Zealanders to come here without quarantining if they won’t let Australians go there without quarantining?
Minister Sukkar:
Well it’s absolutely in the interests of our economy to allow New Zealanders to come to Australia – whether they’re tourists, whether they’re providing some other form of economic assistance to our nation – we’re very happy to welcome them. The Department of Health has obviously undertaken a public health risk assessment of Covid-19 in New Zealand. As long as it is safe for them to travel to Australia, it is undoubtedly in our interests to have, whether it’s as I said, New Zealand tourists or others who are going to provide economic support to Australia, to come here. Of course, when the New Zealand Government wants to reciprocate and make that decision, we will be very pleased at that point.
David Speers:
Let’s go to the budget, just days away now. Can you give us an insight? Are we all going to get a tax cut?
Minister Sukkar:
David, as I’ve said, and we’re partly in the silly season of pre-budget where we will have this interview and I will try and not tell you anything that’s in the budget on Tuesday night and you will furiously try to get it out of me. Look, really the budget will be – as the Prime Minister has said – about jobs and about providing confidence to households, to individuals, to families, to businesses…interrupted.
David Speers:
Let’s talk about something that you have previously announced. Back in June, you announced the HomeBuilder scheme. $25,000 grants for newly built homes or for renovations. How many grant applications have been made now and how many have been approved?
Minister Sukkar:
Well there have been near enough to 10,000 applications made to our various state revenue offices. The statistics from the home industry association highlight that there’s been a 61 per cent increase in new-home sales since the HomeBuilder scheme was put in place so we would expect a large proportion of that increase will mature and form an application in November. Treasury is estimating that 27,000 projects will qualify. We are extraordinarily confident that it will meet or exceed that…interrupted.
David Speers:
Have any been approved and actually paid?
Minister Sukkar:
Absolutely. There’s been approved projects in every state and territory.
David Speers:
How many? How many approved? What was your last update?
Minister Sukkar:
Well in the thousands, so…interrupted.
David Speers:
In the thousands. So, will you need to extend it because it’s due to run only until the end of the year, which is fast approaching, will it have to go longer?
Minister Sukkar:
Well we’re keeping a very close eye on it. It’s obviously a scheme that has been so successful that the industry is calling for it to be extended. We’re going to…interrupted.
David Speers:
So that’s a maybe?
Minister Sukkar:
We’re keeping a very close eye on it. If this program delivers what we expect – at least 27,000 projects and we know that CoreLogic says that 43 jobs are associated with each home, your listeners can do the maths – we’re talking hundreds of thousands of jobs. So, the HIA…interrupted.
David Speers:
Others say that you’d get better bang for your buck in terms of supporting construction with investing in social housing. Will you invest in social housing?
Minister Sukkar:
We make ongoing investments in social housing. It’s predominately the sovereign of states and territories. In fact, the Prime Minister – when he was the Treasurer and I was his assistant – set up the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation which has funnelled more than $1.5 billion of funding which has delivered thousands of new social and affordable homes. We have setup an incredible structure for Community Housing Providers. We recently announced $100 million with the New South Wales State Government to fund a range of social housing projects and $16 million with Western Australia. So, these are ongoing investments that we make, David, these are not things that are new. We make them every year.
David Speers:
Before I let you go, I’ve got to get your thoughts on the big story of the afternoon and that is Donald Trump testing positive for coronavirus. What have you made of that?
Minister Sukkar:
Well I suppose, David, it just highlights the unpredictability associated with Covid-19. I think the sense of chaos that, to some extent, and a lack of control that many of us have felt with Covid-19, is probably not more exemplified than when you see a world leader – whether it’s Boris Johnson or now Donald Trump and the First Lady – getting it. I think it just highlights that this is a wicked virus, and no one is immune from it.
David Speers:
We do need to move on but Assistant Treasurer, Michael Sukkar, thanks very much for joining us.
Minister Sukkar:
Thanks so much, David.