Senator GREEN (Queensland) (15:25): I'm very pleased to take note of answers to questions today—particularly questions about the cost of living, which we know is of crucial importance to all Australians and particularly to people in my home state of Queensland. Our government is aware of how difficult it is for families at the moment. That is why we made sure our budget delivered targeted relief for families and for working people so that we can manage this cost-of-living crisis. The opposition asked questions about real wages, which is pretty laughable considering that for 10 years they had an economic policy designed to drive wages down and they have tried to prevent any method of this government's in increasing real wages. It's interesting to see that they left a few things out from their questions. They certainly don't seem to want to talk about energy, electricity and the rebates that Queenslanders are receiving right now in Queensland because of our government's intervention and our government's policy to provide energy relief. The reason those opposite don't want to talk about that is they voted against it. They voted for higher power bills. They voted against energy rebates. And they voted against giving people relief when they needed it the most. They've also opposed a really important mechanism that our government is seeking to implement in driving down the cost of housing and making sure that we have more social and affordable housing for those people doing it tough. The Housing Australia Future Fund that this Senate continues to block is an important piece of legislation, and key housing and homelessness groups have called for it to be passed as soon as possible. It is incredulous of those opposite to ask questions about interest rates, the cost of living and how tough people are doing it and also stand there and vote against the Housing Australia Future Fund. We know this fund will make a difference. That is why community groups and community housing organisations are calling on this Senate to vote for this legislation. It's a fund that will build more Indigenous housing in remote areas; that's what they're voting against. It's a fund that will build more crisis accommodation for women and children fleeing family and domestic violence, yet senators from the Liberal-National coalition are opposed to that. It is also a fund that will build housing for veterans; that's what those opposite are opposing. The Housing Australia Future Fund is something that we took to the election. It was voted for by the Australian public. We want to see the Senate— The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Senator Scarr? Senator Scarr: Point of order. I note this section is taking note of the coalition's questions to the government. None of the questions referred to the Housing Australia Future Fund, which Senator Green has spent most of her presentation on. She did start on the cost of living. Could she be respectfully requested to return to the subject, perhaps? The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Well, housing is a cost-of-living issue, and the relevant minister was very general in her responses across the economy. I'm going to allow the member to continue. Senator GREEN: I would be embarrassed, too, if I was voting against the Housing Australia Future Fund— The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Don't add salt to the injury, Senator Green. Senator GREEN: and sought to stop me speaking about it. The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: You were making a good point. Just go on with the good point. Senator GREEN: It is within your remit, if you want to stop me from speaking about it. You are opposing affordable housing when people are doing it tough. I know that our government is delivering on cheaper child care, cheaper medicines and making sure that aged-care workers have a pay rise. This is all the work that we are doing, but those opposite oppose things like energy rebates and housing for people who are doing it tough—well, it is laughable for them to come in here and pretend that they care about the cost of living. And it makes sense that they would want to interrupt me making my speech, and it makes sense that they would want to talk about anything other than the way our government is delivering cost-of-living relief. But, finally, can I say we are certainly focused on delivering for the Australian people. That includes delivering the Voice to Parliament. I note the final question today from the opposition, and I want to remind those opposite that we are talking about communities that are doing it tough and have been doing it tough for a really long time. The Voice to Parliament is a simple idea that seeks to listen to the people who need to be heard so that we can close the gap. I would have thought, as the Minister for Finance mentioned, that that was a simple idea that we could all agree on and that closing the gap and listening to people about the things that matter could be supported by those opposite. We won't be lectured by the party of robodebt about standing up for people.