Wednesday, 30 August 2023

Department of Treasury and Finance

Budget papers 2023–24

Ryan BATCHELOR (Southern Metropolitan) (17:19): I rise to speak on the 2023–24 budget papers tabled on 30 May. In particular I would like to take note of budget paper 4, which outlines the state capital program, including the funding allocated to Victoria’s Big Housing Build, because the state budget continues to build on the Andrews Labor government’s commitment to delivering more social and affordable housing right here in Victoria, and in every corner of this state we are getting on with the job of building more housing.

As we have said in this chamber before, if this country, if this state, is going to get serious about fixing the housing crisis, we know we are going to have to build more houses. Increasing housing supply is our fundamental response to the need of more people to live in additional homes, and what is critical to the budget is that Victoria’s Big Housing Build is doing just that. The government is investing $5.3 billion to deliver more than 12,000 social and affordable homes, including $1.3 billion in the budget directed to regional areas. And we are getting on with the job already. Construction on the sites right across Melbourne and Victoria is currently underway building these new social and affordable homes, and since 2020 more than 2000 households have either moved or are getting ready to move into their brand new homes. In addition to increasing housing supply the Big Housing Build is creating more than 30,000 jobs, providing a vital boost to local and regional economies.

I am very glad to see that there are new social and affordable homes going into places right across the state, right across Melbourne, including into the Southern Metropolitan Region, and along with my colleague Mr Berger and my lower house colleagues we have been out and about having a look at the new homes that are being built right across the Southern Metropolitan Region. A couple of weeks ago I visited a new housing development in Brighton East where the state government and the Commonwealth government are partnering with a community housing provider to deliver 152 brand new energy-efficient modern accessible homes, providing housing for 154 people over the age of 55 and in particular those at risk of homelessness, including women, victim-survivors of family violence and those living with a disability. At this site in Centre Road, Brighton East, we were there a couple of weeks ago with the Commonwealth minister and the state minister and met some of the new residents who have already moved back into these new homes. Stage 2 of the development – the demolition works – has been completed and construction is about to commence in addition to that block that has already been completed, and those residents have moved back in.

There are 299 new homes being built at New Street, Brighton, which we also visited recently with the mayor of the City of Bayside. Those homes are looking spectacular. Earlier in the year we went over to Ashburton to the Markham estate with 178 brand new homes replacing the 56 outdated walk-up dwellings. All of these homes that we have seen are modern, energy efficient and accessible, which means that for the residents who are moving back in not only are they getting brand new facilities but they are also going to be facing lower energy bills into the future. On average these units were about 2 stars, the energy rating, prior to the demolition, and the new homes are 7-star rated, which will mean up to 75 per cent lower energy bills in these apartments, saving these residents money.

The Big Housing Build continues: we have got Bangs Street in Prahran, which Mr Berger has visited recently. We have got stuff in Hawthorn and in Port Melbourne, and the estate in Hampton East is in the process of being demolished so that new homes can be built. And as Victoria always stands ready to do more, we know there is continual opposition from the Liberal Party and from the Greens, who do not want to get on board and back more housing to fix the housing crisis in this country, and we hope that eventually in Canberra their friends will pass the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund. While we wait for action from them, this state government is getting on with building more homes for more Victorians.