Ms McBAIN (Eden-Monaro—Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories and Minister for Emergency Management) (14:33): I want to thank the member for Hunter for his question. He has an incredible track record of advocating for his community, particularly for affordable housing. So thank you for your work.

People in regional Australia know that the Albanese Labor government has their back, and that's why people like the member for Hunter keep getting voted in. It's why we have the members for Bullwinkel, Ballarat and Bendigo. We've got regional members over here replacing many former regional members from that side. I'm really proud to stand up for regional Australia and I'm proud that our government has housing on the national agenda. The importance of homeownership for people in regional Australia has never been greater, and we are a government that is dedicated to building regional Australia's future. We're not going to pick favourites through colour coded spreadsheets.

Our government is focused on delivering right across the country, and this includes being able to buy a home for a five per cent deposit. It will be a game changer across regional Australia. It will take years off the time it takes to save a deposit, helping more young people into that dream of homeownership. Whether you're in Branxton or in Bega, you'll be able to get into your own home faster. On this side of the chamber, we have helped more than 38,000 people into homeownership through our regional home guarantee. That is 38,000 more people who are now able to afford to live in the towns that they've grown up in, the towns they work in and the towns they love.
Since taking office, the Albanese government has invested nearly 20 times more in crisis and transitional accommodation than the previous coalition did in 10 years. We're delivering practical solutions for people who need crisis accommodation. There are 42 projects underway across the country, supporting housing in regional communities in the Blue Mountains and in Queanbeyan.
We are committed to delivering infrastructure across regional Australia, too, which includes partnering with other levels of government to deliver the enabling infrastructure that regional communities need to deliver more homes. Our Housing Support Program is providing millions to regional communities—$27 million to Marulan for their wastewater treatment plant to unlock 400 new homes; $45 million to deliver sewer and water infrastructure in Kempsey, including water treatment plants, to unlock 430 homes; and $10 million for enabling infrastructure at Lake Wyangan, to deliver 500 homes—because, on this side of the House, we want to see more Aussies into homes in the regions that they want to live in. Regional communities know that they can vote Labor and they can get results in their community.