Senator KIM CARR (Victoria—Minister for Human Services) (14:42): I thank Senator Payne for her question. I remind her that this Labor government has a very proud record of helping to deliver affordable housing to Australians and their families. At the broad level, our economic management has kept unemployment low, it has helped contain inflation and it has enabled the RBA to keep interest rates low. The current standard variable rate of banks has meant that we are well below what the Liberals left us with when they were in government. If you want to talk about housing you have to talk about interest rates. It is quite clear that there is more money in the pockets of Australian families. They are now saving nearly $5,000 a year on a $300,000 loan, compared to the situation on 27 November. I also remind Senator Payne that, when she wants to talk about a commitment to housing, the Liberal government ripped out $3.1 billion from the housing budget and they— Senator Brandis: Mr President, I rise on a point of order on direct relevance. Comments about what a previous government may have done are not directly relevant to the question of how splitting a portfolio has contributed to the 17 per cent increase in homelessness over which this Labor government has presided. Senator Wong: Mr President, I rise on the point of order: I think it says something about Senator Brandis and the coalition that they think interest rates have nothing to do with housing. That is clearly directly relevant and the minister should be allowed to proceed. The PRESIDENT: Order! I am listening very closely to the minister's answer. There is no point of order at this stage, but the minister has 52 seconds remaining to address the question. Senator KIM CARR: Thank you, Mr President, for listening so carefully. The question here goes to the issue of commitment to housing policy and this government has a very proud record of achievement when it comes to the actual delivery of affordable housing to Australians. We have directly contributed to the construction of more than one in 20 new homes since coming to office through programs such as the $6 billion investment in social housing, which has delivered some 21,000 social housing homes across the nation. There is some $4.5 billion in the National Rental Affordability Scheme, which is providing incentive payments to the private sector to build 50,000 affordable rental homes. So when you compare this government's record with that of the previous government I think we can be quite proud in our assertions that this is a government that is actually committed to housing policy. (Time expired)