People from the communities of Meadow Creek, the Strathbogie Ranges, Barnawartha and beyond had their say as part of a federal government review into community engagement processes for new renewable energy projects and associated infrastructure in a series of roundtable meetings held in Wangaratta on Wednesday.

“The housing crisis is the biggest issue facing regional Australia yet it is a complete blind spot for this Government. Almost one in three Australians live outside the big cities, yet I constantly have to remind this Government about how the housing crisis is impacting people in regional, rural and remote communities,” Dr Haines said.

Members of the government are keen to list the ways they’re addressing the housing crisis across Australia, but I do want to put a spotlight on what is missing from this discussion on housing.

‘Drop in and take off’—this is the catchcry at Al’s Skate Co, an indoor skate park in Wodonga.

It’s clear we must urgently do more to unlock housing supply in regional Australia, and in doing that we need to understand one of the reasons holding back that supply is that, as the people have come, the services that support that growth simply have not kept up.

Independent Federal Member for Indi Helen Haines has introduced a Bill to Parliament to increase the amount of Government housing funding that will go to regional Australia.

Independent Federal Member for Indi Helen Haines has called on Trade Minister Don Farrell to back Australia’s prosecco producers, as free trade negotiations between Australia and the EU restart.

We are a unique workplace, but for too long parliamentarians and our staff have not had the right structures in place to ensure that we are a safe, respectful and professional workplace.

But, despite one in three Australians living outside a major city, not one of these announcements is dedicated to funding housing in regional, rural or remote Australia. Why won’t this government guarantee funding for dedicated housing supply in regional Australia?

I rise to support this motion which will allow the Climate Change Authority to review sectoral pathways for emissions reductions to best support Australia’s transition to net zero emissions by 2050.