Interview with Natalie Barr, Sunrise

23 October 2024

NATALIE BARR: The Federal Government is calling for stamp duty to be scrapped, as Labor aims to reshape the conversation around housing in the lead up to the next election. Housing Minister Clare O'Neil is asking the states to make the change in a bid to increase mobility in the market. This comes as the Coalition criticises the dysfunction federation over its handling of the current crisis. But their take let's bring in Housing Minister Clare O'Neil and Shadow Finance Minister Jane Hume. Morning, both of you. Clare, this morning it's reported the state government's not happy Jan. They're rejecting your calls to scrap stamp duty entirely. Are you sticking with the call?

CLARE O’NEIL: Well, Nat, stamp duty is a bad tax. As I said yesterday, it is also squarely a matter for the state governments. And I'm really supportive and very much applaud some of the moves that those states and territories have made to try to move away from that tax, where the Commonwealth government, we have a lot of important parts to play in the housing debate, and that's why you're seeing our Government do some really bold and ambitious things. We're trying to help Australians build more homes. And I'm here today in a really fast growing part of western Sydney, where we're announcing $26 million in investment in pipes and water and roads and other things that are holding up housing that's going to unlock hundreds of homes just on this site. We're also trying to help Australians in their rental conditions, and we want Australians to build more homes. And I think fundamentally what you're saying is state governments and the Commonwealth recognising that we've got a generation of young people in our country who are facing fundamentally different housing options than their parents and grandparents, and we've got to pull together and do something about that. And that's exactly what's happening.

NATALIE BARR: So there are a lot of factors to this crisis, Jane, should state governments reconsider their position on stamp duty tax? It's a lot of money, tens of thousands of dollars.

JANE HUME: Certainly some of them have tried. And we know that the previous Coalition government in New South Wales did exactly that. But unfortunately, the Minns Government is now overturning the option for new homeowners to either pay stamp duty or pay land tax. Indeed, the ACT Labor Government, they said that they were going to switch from stamp duty to land tax, but then kept stamp duty as well. I think that state Labor governments have been proven to be irresponsible in this regard, pushing up both stamp duty and land tax. So it might be wishful thinking from Clare's point of view. Most importantly, though, stamp duty is a demand side lever, and we really need to pull the supply side levers to open up new land developments. That's why the Coalition government, a Coalition Opposition, have pledged a $5 billion fund to do exactly that. To build that enabling infrastructure in those new housing developments, to unlock half a million new homes, sorry, 500,000 I should say, new homes that wouldn't otherwise have been built, that have been delayed because that infrastructure isn't there and state governments haven't come to the party.

NATALIE BARR: Yeah and I think the Government says they're doing a similar move. Let's move on to this one. Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe's outburst during the king's address to parliament has led to calls for her resignation, as the prime minister has fallen short of demanding the controversial senator should step down. Clare, should she resign? No one can make it, can they?

CLARE O'NEIL: Oh, look exactly Nat, so I've been really clear. The PM has been really clear. This is a really important occasion for our country, having the king and queen here. And we did see that episode. I think what she did was totally inappropriate. My suggestion now is we just move on. No one can make a resign.

NATALIE BARR: Is that because you guys need her in the Senate?

CLARE O’NEIL: No, no, no. It's no it's because she's an elected Senator, and whether Peter Dutton or Jane or anyone else say that they wanted to resign, it's not within our powers to do that. The important thing is, we've got the King and the Queen here. They're going around our country. They're talking to our foremost scientists. They're, you know, enjoying our beautiful natural environment. They're meeting tradies. They're doing all these great things about Australia, and that's the thing that I'm focused on. I'm really proud that they're here. They've got a really warm and special connection to our country, and it's just been an awesome trip for them.

NATALIE BARR: Jane, will anything happen to her? She's done this, she's insulted the King and Queen. Should anything happen to her? Will she get a wrap over the knuckles?

JANE HUME: I think she's got what she wanted. Nat, you know she's this is a very selfish protest by someone that specialises in selfish protest. Of course, the sad part about this is, to become a Senator, you actually have to swear, and I swear an allegiance to the monarch, and she did eventually do that. Being a Senator is an enormous privilege. You have a platform on which you can debate genuine policy and genuine political positions. Instead, she's chosen to use it as protest. I think that's a terrible waste. If she's not going to use the position appropriately, she should resign. But can anybody make it? No. Let's stop talking about this, because she's getting what she wants.

NATALIE BARR: You’re right. Let's go to something bigger, because this is controversial, an item served during the parliamentary reception for the king has got some Aussies up in arms. According to an official federal law, Anzac biscuits should not be referred to as a cookie. However, that is what was printed on the actual menu. Clare. Does the Government regret that mistake?

CLARE O'NEIL: I think this is one of the biggest controversies of the decade. We've got to have a Royal Commission. We've got to have a police inquiry. We cannot have an Anzac biscuit, referred to as a cookie. It is so un-Australian. I'm terribly embarrassed that the Parliament did this, and we've got to get to the bottom. There must be an American working in that Parliament House kitchen somewhere that put that in place. I absolutely reject it.

NATALIE BARR: How did this happen Jane?

JANE HUME: Look, we are going to get to the bottom of this at Budget Estimates. And can I tell you there will be repercussions. Off with their head I say, off with their head.

NATALIE BARR: Heads should roll because, you know, we all know the history that was said to the Anzacs in the tins. They are not cookies. We don't want American words creeping in this much to that official icon. Come on, girls, what are we going to do?

CLARE O'NEIL: We’re all on our unity ticket here.

JANE HUME: Absolutely. Bipartisan approach to this one.

CLARE O’NEIL: Absolutely agree.

NATALIE BARR: It's taken all year to get you two to agree. We've finally done it finally at the end of October. Well done. We'll leave it at that. See you next week.