Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 14 Hansard (9 December) . . Page.. 5007 ..

MR CORNWELL (continuing):

in housing which had the following specific initiative, to quote from your planning and land management policy "Planning for people":

Designate First HomeBuyer and Low-Income blocks in new residential releases.

Minister, why have you broken your election commitment by ensuring that there are no designated first home buyer or low-income blocks in the Wells Station or Dunlop land developments?

MR CORBELL: There were blocks for low-income earners. There were blocks for people who are seeking to enter the housing market for the first time. That is reflected in the cost of some of the blocks offered for ballot. For example, the lowest priced block sold was $130,000, which is very cheap. That is an example of the types of blocks offered for purchase. The government seeks through its land release program to make available a range of blocks at prices which meet a range of buying intentions, and those include people who are looking to enter the market for the first time as well as people who are looking to spend larger amounts of money. The Wells Station release makes provision for that.

I think that it is worth noting in terms of overall land availability in the ACT-we have not heard much on this lately from the opposition, but that is probably because they have been caught out once again-that there is a combined total of over 8,204 dwelling sites in the builders and developers pipeline. How many more is that than was put in place by the Liberal Party? It is 3,500 sites more than was in place under the Liberal Party. Not only is the government releasing a range of land for a range of income types in new estates like Wells Station, but also we have now in the builders and developers pipeline 3,500 more dwellings than the Liberal Party ever achieved when they were in government.

Mrs Dunne: Are the L&Ds written for all of them? No, they are not.

MR SPEAKER: Mrs Dunne, cease interjecting, please.

MR CORNWELL: I have a supplementary question. Minister, does your government believe that low-income blocks could be classified as blocks selling for $130,000, with an average out there for first home buyers as well of $203,000?

MR CORBELL: Mr Speaker, as I have already indicated to Mr Cornwell in my answer, the government is providing a range of block sizes and block costs to meet a range of home buyer expectations. If you were to speak to anyone about the cost of land, $130,000 for a block of land is cheap. Those cheap blocks were all sold; so there is a demand for those types of blocks.

Mrs Dunne: Not to low-income people. The low-income people walked away.

MR CORBELL: Mr Speaker, we have the rabbiting on from Mrs Dunne, the constant interjection, the constant accusation without substance, but the reality is that the government has a range of block sizes available for sale at a range of prices. On top of that, the government has more land in the market in the builders and developers' pipeline than the Liberal Party ever came close to achieving.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .