Wednesday, 14 May 2025

Ministers statements: housing

Sonya KILKENNY (Carrum – Attorney-General, Minister for Planning) (14:14): At the heart of our housing problem is the fact we have not built enough homes in the areas where we need to build them. For too long our outer growth areas have carried the burden of new homes, and this is not fair. For too long suburbs that are well connected to transport, jobs and services have been locked up. In fact we live in a world where our first response is no – no to more homes and no to opportunity, especially for young Victorians. Those opposite say no to homes – no to homes for young Victorians, for older Victorians wanting to downsize and for people who rely on social and affordable homes. It is not just mean, it is reckless, and it just shows how out of touch those opposite are. On this side of the house we do not say no. We are builders. This government’s planning reforms will unlock hundreds of thousands of extra homes –

Richard Riordan interjected.

The SPEAKER: The member for Polwarth can leave the chamber for half an hour.

Member for Polwarth withdrew from chamber.

Sonya KILKENNY: diverse homes – from homes with backyards to townhouses, duplexes, low-rise and multi-unit developments in areas best suited to more homes and more opportunity close to public transport, jobs and services. Through our 50 train and tram zone activity centre program we are supporting more than 300,000 new homes, and through our 10-year pipeline of land for family homes and backyards in Melbourne’s growth areas and through our townhouse code we are kickstarting the townhouse revolution so we can say yes to more homes more quickly while improving affordability, liveability and sustainability.

I have got a simple message for those people who time and time again block homes: Victorians deserve the opportunity to have a home to buy or rent, and we need to give them that opportunity. The Liberals should not stand in the way of that.