Julie Collins 2022

If you’re visiting a small business this International Women’s Day, there’s a one in three chance it’s run by a woman. 

Right now, the reality for Australians trying to find a place to call home is difficult.

Too many Australians are facing or experiencing homelessness and too many of those lucky enough to find a home are being stung by growing rents or mortgage payments. We know this is the case in western Sydney.

When people think of Canberra, the house that usually comes to mind is Parliament House.

But having spent time travelling to the nation's capital, I know that Canberra ‑ like any other community around our country ‑ has its own housing affordability issues. Finding a place to call home, whether you're renting or trying to buy, is hard.

From today, small, and medium businesses across Australia can apply for grants of up to $25,000 to improve energy efficiency, save on energy bills and bring down emissions.

The grants can be used to upgrade or replace existing air conditioners with high efficiency units or gas heating boilers with heat pumps, helping SMEs lower their power bills and emissions.

The Albanese Government’s Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee has already helped more than 2,000 Australians into home ownership, just five months after its launch.

Australians living in regional areas have faced some of the largest drops in housing affordability, making it increasingly hard for locals to save a sufficient deposit.

Today the interim National Housing Supply and Affordability Council met for the first time, marking a new era for housing policy reform in Australia.  

The Council’s expertise and independent, evidence‑based recommendations will help to inform all governments on how to improve housing supply and affordability. 

REBECCA LEVINGSTON:

The federal government's housing package is set to deliver 30,000 social and affordable homes over the next five years at a cost of $10 billion. Julie Collins is the Federal Housing Minister. Minister, good morning.

JULIE COLLINS:

Good morning to you, and to your listeners this morning.

WOODY:

Speaking of which, the Federal Minister for Housing, Julie Collins, joins us now, also the member for Franklin here in Tasmania. Morning, Julie Collins.

JULIE COLLINS:

Good morning, and to your listeners today.

WOODY:

The Albanese Government’s landmark legislation to deliver the single biggest investment in affordable and social housing in more than a decade has passed the House of Representatives.

GREG JENNET: