Anika Wells says intergenerational equity a 'crisper issue' than in 2019

In this episode of Radio National Breakfast, Minister for Communications Annika Wells discusses the federal government's upcoming budget and its focus on intergenerational equity, particularly around housing affordability. She argues that the issue has become more urgent and 'crisper' since the 2019 election, citing widespread public concern from parents and grandparents about their children's ability to own homes. While acknowledging that Labor didn't campaign on tax changes in 2019, Wells emphasizes that significant housing reforms were already part of the platform, and ongoing work continues behind the scenes. She also addresses the social media ban for under-16s, defending its focus on platforms with harmful design features while noting that gaming platforms like Roblox and Fortnite may be subject to future review if they adopt similar features. Wells confirms that the government will table its response to the gambling inquiry next week and introduce legislation, though she has not adopted the recommendation for a national regulator, instead urging the Northern Territory to raise its standards. She also responds to concerns about Philip Morris giving closed-door evidence to a parliamentary inquiry, criticizing the Coalition for accepting funding from big tobacco.