Nat Barr has been called out by some Sunrise viewers after she said she was concerned about her adult sons buying a home amid ‘s housing crisis.
‘I’m in the lucky position I got to buy mine (house) when they were cheaper years ago but I don’t know how my kids are going to buy one,’ Barr said on the breakfast program on Wednesday morning.
However, many pointed out the fact the Sunrise host was reportedly on a salary of more than $1million, putting her in a much better position to financially support her children Hunter, 19, and Lachlan, 22, than ordinary Aussies.
‘Thoughts and prayers to Nat Barr,’ one joked.
‘She makes enough money to buy one for them,’ another said.
‘Check your privilege, Nat,’ a third added.
Another called Barr out of touch.
Barr has never revealed her exact salary, though Daily Mail understands she earns upwards of $1million a year.
Channel Seven has been contacted for comment.
Her comments came during a discussion about the government’s Help To Buy Bill, with guests Housing Minister Clare O’Neil and Opposition finance spokeswoman Senator Jane Hume.
The government reintroduced the bill, which would see them co-purchase houses with about 40,000 first-home buyers, to the House of Representatives on Tuesday.
n citizens who are at least 18-years-old and own a yearly income of $90,000 or less are eligible, while couples on $120,000 are also eligible.
The government would provide 40 per cent of the purchase price on new builds, and 30 per cent for existing homes.
Applicants must supply a minimum 2 per cent deposit.
Ms Hume said the Coalition ‘didn’t agree’ with the bill.
‘Nobody wants to co-own their house with Anthony Albanese,’ she said on Sunrise.
‘They want to own their home outright. It’s a terrible idea.
‘The only way to increase home ownership in this country is to increase supply.’
The Greens and the coalition had previously voted to delay setting up the scheme, with the Prime Minister hinting the laws could be used as a double-dissolution trigger.
Finance Minister Katy Gallagher said talks were still under way with the Greens on finding common ground, but admitted the government was getting exasperated by the hold-up.
‘We’ve been frustrated at every turn by the Greens and the Opposition which have ensured that legislation, like the Housing Future Fund, was delayed for a year because of the performance around that,’ she told ABC Radio on Wednesday.
‘We could have dealt with this legislation. Unfortunately, the opposition and the Greens voted to delay it and not allow it to even be debated for two months. So if they’ve changed their position, the Greens know our door is always open.’
While the Greens said they would back the bill if the government implemented a freeze on rents or changes to negative gearing, party leader Adam Bandt said they were willing to pledge support if Labor moved any of its positions.
Mr Bandt said larger changes were needed to the housing system.
He said the government had made it clear ‘they’re not for changing’ on the scheme.
‘This tinkering around the edges while the problem gets worse on a daily basis for people is not (the solution).’
The scheme would be open to 10,000 people annually for four years.
However, the Greens have laid out concerns that people on the scheme would have to pay back large amounts of money to the government if they go over an income threshold.