Page 1234 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 23 August 1989
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trying to cross the road. I will have my department look into that and maybe report back to you at some other time.
Home Ownership
MR KAINE: I would like to address a question also to the Minister for Housing and Urban Services, and it has got nothing to do with sprightly people like Hector being run over. Minister, in the Commonwealth Gazette of 18 May 1989 there is listed a range of responsibilities for your portfolio, and one of them is identified as the promotion of home ownership. Could you tell us what activities you have engaged in in the last four months to actually promote home ownership?
MRS GRASSBY: You will be delighted to know about that when we come down with our housing review, because in the past months we have been talking to building societies and banks on ways that the Housing Trust may be involved in helping people to own homes. In the money that came down with the last Federal budget, you will be also very happy to know, the Federal Government under that Act has allowed us, and we feel able, to help at least 50 and maybe more people. We are lifting the level of how much money they are allowed to earn before they can get it, to bring their interest rates down to maybe 15.5 per cent until interest rates drop.
Mr Kaine: Can I be on that list?
MRS GRASSBY: Well, you could apply. I think your salary is just a little bit above it.
Mr Kaine: No, it is not. I am below the poverty level until the Remuneration Tribunal determines otherwise.
MR SPEAKER: Order! Members will direct their questions and statements through the Chair.
Youth Homelessness
MR WOOD: I have a question also on youth homelessness. In view of assertions that have been made about a lack of interest by the Government, can you, Minister Grassby, explain what the Government is doing on this matter?
MRS GRASSBY: Yes. I think it was Mr Collaery who said yesterday - if I am wrong, I stand to be corrected - that we had done nothing about youth homelessness. May I report that the Commonwealth budget provides $655,000 in tied grants under the Commonwealth-State housing agreement for the crisis accommodation program. I have nominated this level of funding. It is an increase of $372,000 over the amount provided last year. Young people are a major target
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