Housing affordability
Ms BRITNELL (South-West Coast) (14:27): My question is to the minister for consumer affairs. I refer to her media release of 18 February in which she states:
Home buyers are finding it increasingly difficult to enter the market with significant demand and rapid rises in property prices providing more barriers than ever before.
Given the minister made this statement on the very day her government announced a new tax on first home buyers, I ask: exactly how will imposing a huge new tax on Victorian first home buyers make it easier for those finding it increasingly difficult to enter the housing market?
Ms HORNE (Williamstown—Minister for Ports and Freight, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Fishing and Boating) (14:28): I thank the member for her question about the comprehensive property market review that we are undertaking, because we are reviewing the laws on underquoting. As those on the other side may be aware, we have got a property market that is really hot at the moment, and the amount of complaints about underquoting has been on the rise. As a result what we have done is engage two really significant people in this space: Enzo Raimondo, who is a former head of the REIV, and Carolyn Bond, who is a great consumer advocate. What they are doing is looking at the details around the property review to have a look at the laws that have been in existence since 2016 so that consumers can be assured that we have got the appropriate laws in place to prevent any of this practice.
Ms BRITNELL (South-West Coast) (14:29): My supplementary is: will the minister’s review of the Victorian property laws also extend to the impact of the state government’s taxation laws on property, and will the results of this survey be made public?
Ms HORNE (Williamstown—Minister for Ports and Freight, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Fishing and Boating) (14:29): Look, I am sorry, but this is just a ridiculous question. I would encourage the member to actually do a little bit of work, have a look at the terms of reference and make a contribution rather than just trying to trip this up in political pointscoring.
Members interjecting.
The SPEAKER: Order! When the house comes to order. Members have been warned already about interjecting across the chamber.