Interview with Sylvia Jeffreys on the Today Show

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Subjects: Housing Crisis, Migration, Child Care Sector, Sam Neill

E&OE.........

Sylvia Jeffreys

Welcome back, house values across Sydney are plummeting, according to the latest CoreLogic price mapping. This despite the Albanese government assuring Australians prices would continue to increase in the wake of their budget. Joining us to discuss today's headlines is Shadow Minister for Housing Andrew Bragg and Nine Adelaide presenter Tom Rehn. Morning to you both. Andrew, in Earlwood, there's been a 9.5 per cent drop, 7.9 per cent in Randwick, 8.6 per cent in Maroubra over three months. What's your reaction to those figures this morning?

Senator Bragg

This is all part of Labor's war on young people. Now, house prices are too high from a young person's perspective, there's no doubt about that. And all this is going to do is highlight that young people can't afford to buy these houses. And over the long term, the fact that the government have let in so many people through the migration program but haven't built enough houses is going to guarantee that affordability is not going to increase.

Sylvia Jeffreys

So is it good that house prices are in decline to some extent?

Senator Bragg

If it improves affordability, it will help young people, but the fundamentals haven't changed, and that is that the migration program is too strong and the house building program is too weak.

Sylvia Jeffreys

So ultimately, you're satisfied in seeing house prices declining.

Senator Bragg

If that's going to help young people get in, then that's a good thing. But I make the point that it's not about the actual price, it's about affordability, and affordability has been smashed by this government because they've let almost 2 million people into the country and they've only built about 600,000 houses.

Sylvia Jeffreys

But doesn't this show that it is becoming more affordable? I'm confused.

Senator Bragg

But let's see if it actually does help first home buyers because the clearance rates are so low, it's not clear that first home buyers are actually buying. And as I say, what matters is actually the affordability of the loan over the longer term and whether they can actually get in. And when migration is so high and home building levels are so low, I don't think it's going to help the first home buyer.

Sylvia Jeffreys

Well, interestingly this morning, Tom, in The Age, a new poll has shown that 61 per cent of Australians across every political party and pretty much every age demographic want house prices to drop. What do you make of that?

Tom Rehn

It's interesting, isn't it? And certainly helps those first-time buyers, but I guess one of the issues you've got, it's a double-edged sword because people that have just entered the market, the last thing you want is to have an asset where your mortgage is higher than the value of your home. And the other problem is there's been all these changes to negative gearing and capital gains taxes, interest rate rises. So the market might be going down, but then you've got an issue where those investors that are trying to sort of stay relevant and they're getting costs passed onto them with these taxes—what are they going to do? Well, they're just going to lift their rent levels. So it's going to pass that onto the renters who are trying to get into the market. So I think it's an issue the government needs to sort through because although their intentions might be good, I'm not sure if it's actually going to end up helping people be able to get into the market easily.

Sylvia Jeffreys

Yeah, and on that, investors are seizing on new builds as a result of the negative gearing changes. So new home buyers, or first home buyers, are losing the upper hand in that respect, in territory that used to belong to them mostly. Do you think Jim Chalmers saw that coming, Andrew?

Senator Bragg

I don't think he knows what he's doing. I'm not sure that he knows what his name is. He's also stopped the ability of SMSF investors from creating new housing stock, so this budget is a shambles. The new taxes won't help punters, and it's very clear to me that he's going to have to redo his budget again when we go back to Canberra in August.

Sylvia Jeffreys

Okay, moving along. I want to discuss the incredibly disturbing allegations of child abuse across Sydney this morning. I know it's very hard to digest this morning and there's obviously a lot that can't be said for legal reasons. But I think it's worth reminding our viewers this morning of Pauline Hanson's comments at the National Press Club about qualifications and pay for child care workers. She said, and I quote: "I was a mother of four children. I didn't have a university degree to look after my children. Why do we now expect these child care centers to have students or people with some sort of degree to look after a child?" Andrew, in light of today's news, how do you respond to that statement?

Senator Bragg

Well, obviously the first point is that the families are going through hell and our hearts are with them because this is the worst thing that could happen to a family. But I make the point that we live in a country that's supposed to have the rule of law, and I'd say that our law enforcement here is hopeless. The government have reformed these laws, and I would expect that the regulator would be on top of these things.

Sylvia Jeffreys

So is lowering the standards for child care workers the answer, as Pauline Hanson suggests?

Senator Bragg

No, I don't think so. I think you should have a Working With Children Check, you should have all these basic things done. I mean, I think the idea of having no standards around our children is not the answer. The answer is getting the law enforcement done and the regulators properly enforced. That's the answer. But I think across the board in Australia, we see a country where the laws are written but there's no proper enforcement, so it's a joke.

Sylvia Jeffreys

Okay, I want to pivot now into a wonderful life and an opportunity to remember the late great Sam Neill this morning. His life is of course prompting mountains of tributes this morning and really beautiful memories of someone who was so cool, Tom, and so classy. I know you have a favorite Sam Neill moment to share this morning, let's just take a look.

[Start Clip]

Sam Neill

I would like to have seen Montana.

[End Clip]

Sylvia Jeffreys

Tom, such range, he was prolific, wasn't he? You know, over 150 appearances across the screen.

Tom Rehn

He was amazing, wasn't he? And I remember growing up with those images we saw in Jurassic Park. It's one of those movies, you just remember it brings back childhood for me. And that movie there that we just saw the clip, that was The Hunt for Red October with the legendary Sean Connery. You know, I just loved watching him. He had this presence and he just seemed like a really warm and engaging person. Dead Calm is another movie that I watched. I could go on and on, but it's so sad when we lose people, you know, these giants of the screen, but also great people. Australians, we've claimed him as our own—I know he wasn't born in this country, but an amazing life. Gone too soon, and vale Sam Neill. An amazing career and a sensational person.

Sylvia Jeffreys

Beautifully said. The entertainment world is in mourning, but he holds a special place in all of our hearts, doesn't he? Andrew and Tom, thank you for your time this morning, we appreciate it. See you soon.

Tom Rehn

Pleasure, thank you.

[Ends]