Barnaby Joyce disagrees housing is unaffordable as he bought first home for $67k

Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce has argued it’s not unrealistic to buy a first home on minimum wage, as he bought his for $67,000.

Australian Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has used the fact his first house cost him $67,000 nearly 30 years ago as evidence to why he believes it is not unrealistic to rent and save for a home on minimum wage.

Speaking about the housing affordability crisis on ABC’s Q&A on Thursday night, independent Senator Jacqui Lambie claimed young people’s dreams of owning an Aussie house had gone out the window and it was only going to get worse.

“You can’t pay rent and save. You just can’t do that. We all know that. Not on minimum wages. It’s just unrealistic,” she said.

Mr Joyce – who makes $433,575 a year – was quick to disagree, referencing his own experience of buying a rural home in 1994 at about 27 years old.

“I disagree with that. The first house I bought cost me $67,000,” he said nonchalantly, leaving the audience laughing and Ms Lambie in shock.

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Jacqui Lambie was left shocked by Barnaby Joyce’s claim it wasn’t unrealistic to a buy a house now because he bought his first home for $67,000. Picture: ABC

“Jesus, Barnaby, I don’t know what planet you’re on, but you’re looking at $600,000 now and that’s on a good day. Fair dinkum,” Ms Lambie replied.

Shadow treasurer Jim Chalmers added: “Good news, everybody – because Barnaby bought a cheap house a long time ago, you’ll all be sweet!”

Mr Joyce paused and allowed the audience to give a round of applause before defending his comment.

“What I think I’m explaining is – we have to acknowledge – and I know people don’t want to – but in areas of regional Australia housing is a lot, lot cheaper,” he said. “We’ve got to make sure the opportunity arrives where those cheaper houses are.”

He then added that if he were to go back to the town he bought his first house – Werris Creek – you could still buy one for about $200,000.

Werris Creek is a small rural NSW town near Tamworth with a population of about 1500 people.

Mr Joyce defended his comment by saying he meant houses were a lot cheaper in regional areas. Picture: ABC

“Is there any jobs there? Is there any manufacturing there?” Ms Lambie asked.

Mr Joyce said there was, pointing out Crawford Freightlines’ hub in the town.

Viewers took to social media to criticise Mr Joyce for being out-of-touch.

“Barnaby has been there too long … He bought a house for $60 grand!! We need someone who lives in 2022,” one woman wrote.

“I had to rewind this three times because I couldn’t believe he was THAT out of touch with reality!” another person said.

While, one added: “Barnaby has NO idea how low income people struggle. None.”

Others made jokes about how the housing market in Werris Creek was now going to take off as everyone looked for a home there.

One video of the exchange posted on TikTok had reached almost 1 million views on Friday afternoon.

“Let’s time travel back to the 80s and buy a house. Problem solved,” one commenter quipped.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison was also accused of being out-of-touch this week after he suggested struggling renters would be better off buying a house.

“(The) best way to support people who are renting a house is to help them buy a house,” he said, referencing the expansion of the government’s first-home buyer scheme when asked about rental affordability.

However, he has insisted his remarks were taken out of context.