Page 1265 - Week 04 - Thursday, 5 May 2022
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Questions without notice
Government—land release
MS LEE: My question is to the Minister for Planning and Land Management. Over the past 18 months, tens of thousands of people have entered land ballots in Canberra, for only 379 blocks of land. Over the same period of time, we have seen the median house price in Canberra climb to over $1 million. We also have the highest median rents in Australia. Minister, why does your government refuse to release enough land to meet demand in Canberra to help alleviate the housing affordability crisis?
MR GENTLEMAN: I reject the premise of Ms Lee’s question. Of course the government is releasing land, and it is printed in the indicative land release program. Private sector development is expected to contribute to an average annual supply of an additional 1,500 new homes annually across Canberra in the coming years, so up to 24,000 residential dwellings are estimated to be supplied over the next five years, made up of both government and private releases.
MS LEE: Minister, is your government deliberately restricting land supply to increase government revenue?
MR GENTLEMAN: No, we are not.
MR CAIN: Minister, what do you say to the thousands of Canberrans who have been unable to secure a block of land in recent ballots?
MR GENTLEMAN: The government is working very hard to supply land where it is needed. Of course, the ILRP shows that—
Mr Cain: That is not what is happening.
MADAM SPEAKER: A member asked a question; members should have the decency to be quiet and listen.
MR GENTLEMAN: As I was saying, the ILRP shows our planned release over the next five years details those figures against population grown. We want to make sure that there is enough housing for Canberrans into the future, both released by the ACT government and by the private sector.
Housing—Winton report
MR HANSON: My question is to the Minister for Planning and Land Management. Minister, the Winton report of 2015 showed that over 90 per cent of Canberrans would prefer to live in low and medium-density housing. However, in complete contrast, your government’s policy is 70 per cent infill and 30 per cent greenfield for new housing development. In practice, this means that 70 per cent of new housing is high-density housing. Minister, is your 70-30 policy meeting Canberrans’ housing wants and needs?
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