Barnaby Joyce exploded Monday morning in an “embarrassing” fiery discussion with Labor MP Tanya Plibersek as the government and opposition clash over housing policy.
Sunrise presenter Natalie Barr said she felt “pity for the people in Australia trying to figure out what to vote for on Saturday” after Mr. Joyce and Ms. Plibersek failed to answer key questions about housing policy.
It comes after Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced in his official campaign launch on Sunday that first-time homebuyers would be given access to a “sensible” portion of their pension to secure their first home.
Ms. Plibersek said, “there is a reason why John Howard, Peter Costello … and Malcolm Turnbull rejected this policy”.
Camera icon Natalie Barr said she felt sorry for Australians who had to choose between the two major parties. Credit: Included
But Joyce said it was a better policy than the one Labor had proposed, where the government would pay 40 percent of the home, provided potential homebuyers meet the income threshold.
Mr. Joyce asked Ms. Plibersek whether that was taxable or gross income, which she could not answer, and instead attacked the Deputy Prime Minister.
Mr. Joyce grew increasingly frustrated with Ms. Plibersek’s inability to reply.
“How do you not understand your policy?” he asked before Mrs. Plibersek finally answered.
“It’s taxable income—I don’t know why it’s so complicated for Barnaby,” she said.
“Someone just told her that,” Mr. Joyce retorted.
Ms. Plibersek said she was “ashamed” that Mr. Joyce “goes on like this”.
Barr said she was embarrassed that Australians could choose from two paltry policies on Saturday.
“I feel sorry for us because we have to walk into those polling booths and try to figure out what the heck we’re going to vote on,” she said.
Camera icon Ms. Plibersek struggled to answer a question from Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce. Credit: Included
Morrison later hit back at criticism that taking up the scheme would make young people lose their super.
He told Barr it would complement the government’s other policies, pushing older Australians to downsize to open more homes for young families – an approach the Labor Party supports.
Labor does not support the super-scheme.
Camera icon Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce supported Scott Morrison at the campaign’s official launch in Brisbane on Sunday. Jason Edwards Credit: News Corp Australia
“This is a balanced policy that addresses increasing supply by supporting downsizing, bringing more supply to the market and helping young Australians, but applies to people of any age when buying their own homes to gain access to their own money,” Mr. Morrison told Channel 7.
“The Labor Party opposed this because they don’t treat super like it’s your money – it’s your money. You earned it and kept it.
“This helps… people to have a stronger retirement, but at the same time not miss the opportunity not to wait for years and years to come.
“It (also) ensures that by having a larger down payment…it reduces your mortgage payments…you can save thousands of dollars a year.”
