Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop, Minister for Housing and Building, Minister for Development Victoria and Precincts) (12:35): While we are on the subject, Mr Davis, we are committed to growing well here in Victoria by delivering more homes for more Victorians within walking distance of jobs, transport and services. Unlike some of those on the crossbench and the opposition, we back our commitments with real action. That is why Victoria is scheduled to reach 98 per cent of its share of the housing accord target of 1.2 million homes built – leading the nation. By comparison New South Wales is projected to reach 65 per cent of its share and Queensland is projected to reach 79 per cent of its share. Let us compare that: Victoria, scheduled to reach 98 per cent of its share. We have already reached 18 per cent of the share under the housing accord, tied with Western Australia and once again ahead of New South Wales and Queensland. On top of this, Victoria continues to build more homes year on year than the other east coast states. Over the year to the end of June 2025, Victoria has commenced over 55,600 homes – 8900 more than New South Wales and 19,600 more than Queensland, and we have completed over 55,700 homes – 13,100 more than New South Wales and 22,400 more than Queensland. Now, median house and unit rents in Melbourne remain more affordable than Sydney and Brisbane, and the same is true for house and unit prices. In fact the Grattan Institute just this weekend said that Melbourne has:
… some of the most affordable housing in the country now … And that is in large part, a success of building more homes.
I was pleasantly surprised to hear one commentator acknowledge that we here in Victoria have in fact built more homes than other states. It is really, really good to hear such enthusiasm for the work of the Allan Labor government. But again, in a show of unity, at least with government, that enthusiasm coming from the Shadow Minister for Planning and Housing is a wonderful thing to see. I am sure the member for Polwarth’s YIMBY membership pack is in the mail as we speak – (Time expired)