Saturday, 5 September 2026

Topics: housing; Antisemitism; algorithms; Victoria Police.

E&OE……………………..

Tim Wilson: New data today shows that the cost of housing for Australians continues to become more unaffordable. New data shows that because of the Albanese government's taxes, housing is becoming more unaffordable, particularly for first home buyers. Australians need hope, and the problem they have is the government cannot kick its spending addiction. So, they keep adding taxes, which is making it harder for young Australians to be able to buy their first home. What we need is policy change. Australians need to be able to afford a home, their first home, and what they don't need are more taxes, because the government cannot kick its spending addiction.

We also need a government that is strong. Today, the head of ASIO, Mike Burgess, sent frankly, what should be a chilling warning to the Australian community. We have had a failure of leadership in Australia since October 2023, particularly on Antisemitism. The failure of leadership on Antisemitism under the Prime Minister's watch has led to one of the worst tragedies in Australian history. There were consistent warnings from the head of ASIO about the scale of the risk of Antisemitism to the community, and they were underplayed and undervalued by the Prime Minister and his government. We need leadership to combat social division, to bring Australians together, and to provide basic security and safety for every Australian.

Journalist: Would you like to see house prices fall?

Tim Wilson: I absolutely want to see first homebuyer homes are more affordable, but the data clearly shows that the price of first homes is increasing, and young Australians are falling further behind because there is no confidence in the market. We've had a trifecta of failure, rising rents which are kneecapping first homebuying aspirants, we're seeing rising prices of first homes for young Australians kneecapping the extent they can get into the market, and a smash in confidence which means fewer homes.

Journalist: To what extent do you think interest rates are playing a role in the housing affordability crisis?

Tim Wilson: There are multiple factors, always, in house prices. But what's clearest is that since the federal Budget and the government's new taxes to feed its spending addiction, confidence has collapsed out of the market and Australians no longer feel confident about housing. That's why we have a trifecta of failure. We have rising rents, we have a fall in property prices, and a smash in confidence, but not a pathway for young Australians to buy their first home.

Journalist: Is it good thing that the government's tax changes in the budget are playing a role in softening property prices?

Tim Wilson: The problem is the data doesn't show first home buyers are getting ahead. First home buyers are applying for loans less, and the price of first homes is increasing, and that's a disaster for young Australians who want to get a foot in the property market, be able to buy their first home and provide for their family and security.

Journalist: I have some questions on other topics. I don't know if the journalist on the phone wants to ask about the housing affordability. So, who's on the phone for us? Amalee, do you have any questions on housing?

Journalist: Thanks, Tim. Just on the housing report, it shows that WA is no longer the most affordable state. What do you think is happening in that sense, and do you think the problem with the taxes is widespread across the country?

Tim Wilson: There will always be differences between different states. There's not one property market. We know that the price of entry-level first homes is increasing, while we're seeing a softening at the top end of the market, and that's the challenge of when you don't have confidence, while young Australians are still desperate to be able to buy their first home, it's getting harder for them, while the government's active inflation agenda is wiping out the wealth and wages of Australians across the country, and of course, it varies depending on where you are in the country on its impact.

Journalist: [inaudible]

Tim Wilson: Until we see the draft legislation, the job of the government is to give confidence to the Australian community this is not going to be a back door pathway for control or for censorship. What we've seen every point in this government is it has tried to use laws to censor and silence people's opinions. They try to use laws to shut down freedom of information. They have tried to use laws to shut down transparency. And of course, they like to silence dissent in the community. So, until we see the legislation, the job of the government is to make sure they give the Australian community confidence that this isn't going to be a back door towards censorship.

Journalist: Do you think algorithms are driving Australians towards dangerous online content?

Tim Wilson: I think algorithms are revealed and reflect back to people often the content they want to see. The most important thing is that we live in a society that is free and people can choose to consume information and make their own judgments. What laws shouldn't be used for is a pathway for censorship or silence, because the government doesn't like the voices Australians are hearing.

Journalist: I have a bit of a local Victorian question. We've heard today that public counter hours are being cut completely at 40 different stations in Melbourne. What's your reaction to that?

Tim Wilson: The state Labor government, the Carroll government, has too close a relationship with organized crime. We've seen this with the CFMEU and this Labor government. We've seen it with the attacks from the federal government on trying to stop the illegal tobacco trade. I am not shocked for one second that in a spike of community safety and the problems of crime, the solution from the Carroll government is to try and limit the activity and involvement of police. This government does not care about community safety. This government is not concerned about keeping Victorians safe. We've heard today from the ASIO Director-General that the concerns around Antisemitism he raised with governments across the country fell on deaf ears. The concerns around organized crime have fallen on deaf ears in Victoria, and now the only solution the Carroll government seems to want is to cut back the involvement and protection of the police. We desperately need a Wilson government in Victoria that is going to clean up our streets, protect the Victorian community, and build the safety Victorians need.

[ENDS]