Julie Collins 2022

The Albanese Government’s additional protections for small businesses and consumers take effect today outlawing unfair contract terms to help level the playing field in negotiations between big corporations and both small businesses and consumers.

These reforms give regulators the power to seek a court penalty for businesses that include unfair terms in standard form contracts.

As Small Business Minister, I spend a lot of my time talking to small business owners in Tasmania and right across the country.

Consistently one of the key concerns they raise with me is workforce shortages.

As the National Australia Bank reported earlier this year, one in three small- and medium-sized businesses identified labour shortages as a “very significant'' issue.

Housing Australia has broken new ground with its largest funding transaction ever, providing more than $500 million in Federal Government support to build 1,370 new homes in Melbourne.

This historic investment is another example of the Albanese Government’s reform agenda helping to tackle Australia’s housing challenges.

The Albanese Government has delivered on its commitment to Australians with tomorrow marking the start of the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund.

The Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) is the single biggest investment to support social and affordable housing in more than a decade.

The Albanese Government welcomes tomorrow’s board meeting of Housing Australia, its first following its commencement earlier this month. 

Housing Australia is dedicated to improving housing outcomes by supporting efforts to increase the supply of homes for Australians. 

Recent high profile cyber attacks have revealed the enormous amount of data held by Australia’s largest businesses.

Along with the significant cost to consumers who have had their data compromised, we have also seen the serious damage that is done to businesses that have faced attacks.

STEVE AUSTIN:

The Federal Government has tipped more money into the social housing bucket for Queensland. $398 million from the Social Housing Accelerator. Julie Collins is the Federal Minister for Housing, Homelessness and Small Business. Julie Collins, thanks for joining me on ABC Radio Brisbane. What is a Social Housing Accelerator, please?

A new era for housing policy begins today with the commencement of Housing Australia, following the passage of the Albanese Government’s housing legislative package last month.

The Allan and Albanese Labor Governments are building more homes for Victorians, creating a blueprint for the long‑term renewal of the Banksia Gardens neighbourhood in Broadmeadows.

Displayed at the entrance of my office in Parliament is a piece of artwork I received from the Katherine Accommodation Action Group just a few weeks after I became the Minister for Housing.

The artwork includes personal accounts of housing insecurity from across Katherine, highlighting the unacceptable consequences of Australia's housing challenges.