Page 318 - Week 01 - Thursday, 10 February 2022
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(4) How many Canberrans are currently priced out of the market and unable to afford a home.
(5) How does the Government support homeless Canberrans wanting to buy a home.
(6) How does the Suburban Land Agency (SLA) manage land release ballots.
(7) Does the SLA give preference to Canberrans who do not currently own a home; if not, why not.
(8) Further to part (7), does the Government prioritise/give preference to other groups; if so, can the Minister provide details.
Ms Berry: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
(1) The ACT Government offers a range of financial support to help people buy a property. Information is available on the following websites:
https://www.revenue.act.gov.au/im-buying-a-new-home
https://www.act.gov.au/assistance/housing-and-rates
https://www.act.gov.au/homes-housing/home
In addition to these financial support programs, the ACT Housing Strategy establishes the policy framework to guide decisions about policy, planning and delivery of housing assistance, with a particular focus on low to moderate households and those most vulnerable to homelessness. The strategy is structured around five goals and 74 priority actions, supported by an implementation plan which identifies delivery responsibilities and timeframes. Further information is available on the ACT Government’s Homes and Housing website: https://www.act.gov.au/homes-housing/act-housing-strategy
(2) In addition to the support mentioned in the response to question one, one of the initiatives under the ACT Housing Strategy that supports people to buy a home is the Affordable Home Purchase Scheme. This scheme gives eligible buyers the opportunity to purchase a property at a fixed price threshold, based on affordable repayments for a household in income quintile two.
There are a range of properties available including apartments, townhouses and house and land packages, with different numbers of bedrooms and in a range of locations across the ACT. Further information is available here: https://suburbanland.act.gov.au/affordable-housing
A further initiative to support homebuyers is the Land Rent Scheme. This scheme reduces the entry costs and mortgage payments for homeowners, as lessees rent the land from the government instead of buying it. Further information is available here: https://suburbanland.act.gov.au/en/land-rent-scheme
(3) The ACT Government does not directly intervene in the property market to regulate property prices. Property prices are influenced by a range of factors including market forces and land and housing supply and demand.
The Government’s Indicative Land Release Program aims to make sure the amount of land for new housing that is supplied to the market remains ahead of the forecast
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