PM defends government record on gambling and housing crises
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese defended his government's approach to housing and gambling during an interview on ABC Radio National.
- He highlighted a $32 billion commitment to housing initiatives and criticized the Coalition and Greens for blocking access to the Help to Buy scheme.
- Albanese's remarks indicate a focus on maintaining existing tax settings and a partial gambling ad ban, despite calls for more comprehensive reforms.
In a recent interview on ABC Radio National, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese defended his government's record on housing and gambling issues, asserting that their approach is not timid. He emphasized that changes to existing housing tax settings could potentially decrease supply, and he rejected calls for a total ban on gambling advertisements, stating that the core issue lies with gambling itself rather than its promotion. Albanese highlighted Labor's commitment to affordable childcare, noting that they have already made significant strides in this area during their first term. He also mentioned the government's investment of $32 billion towards housing initiatives, including the Housing Australia Future Fund, which aims to provide social and affordable homes. Albanese criticized the Coalition and Greens for obstructing access to the Help to Buy scheme, which would assist low and middle-income earners in achieving home ownership. He dismissed demands for changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax, arguing that such measures would not increase housing supply. The Prime Minister's remarks come as he prepares to attend the Quad leaders' summit in the US, where he will also launch a major social and affordable housing project in Queensland. Albanese's comments reflect ongoing debates about the effectiveness of current policies and the challenges faced in addressing housing and gambling crises in Australia.