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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 07 Hansard (Tuesday, 29 June 2004) . . Page.. 2884 ..

I ask leave to make a statement.

Leave granted.

MR QUINLAN: On 19 November 2003 the Legislative Assembly passed a resolution on affordable housing for low income earners, and today I table the government’s response. The Department of Treasury has investigated the issues relating to land tax concessions for landlords, providing affordable and suitable housing for low income earners. After consulting Environment ACT, it also investigated the issues relating to more effective financial incentives for the installation of energy and water-efficient appliances and other measures in rental properties. Housing affordability is a national concern and needs to be addressed at all levels of government.

The national concern is highlighted by the fact that many states and territories have amended home ownership schemes. Even this week the passion behind the issue has been witnessed by the public commentary of the participants in the National Summit on Housing Affordability. The ACT has taken the initiative and has implemented, and is continuing to implement, a range of assistance measures to help low income households and those wishing to enter home ownership.

Following extensive work by the Affordable Housing Taskforce and the government’s inquiry into homelessness, the government has developed a comprehensive package of measures to alleviate housing stress and improve housing affordability. These measures cover all areas of social and private rental markets and home ownership and include financial assistance in various forms, as well as construction of additional accommodation to help low income households. Emphasis has been given to providing additional support for community and indigenous housing and to the crisis accommodation sector.

Key measures implemented to date and announced in the 2004-05 budget are detailed in the government’s response. The ACT government continues to participate in and contribute to the work of bodies involved in establishing and monitoring energy-efficient standards for commercial and household appliances. A prime example of this work is the minimum energy performance standards that have been developed for appliances ranging from dishwashers to airconditioners.

The now familiar energy star rating displayed on new electrical appliances such as refrigerators, microwave ovens and washing machines is another program supported by the ACT government in conjunction with other jurisdictions. These programs work to raise customer awareness on the relative energy efficiency of various appliances and the savings that may accrue with their use. Other programs such as energy-efficient rating programs for residential properties are aimed at the dwelling itself rather than the appliances used within it.

The EER provides an indication to potential buyers of the relative cost of heating and cooling of the home and is widely accepted in the market as a discriminating element. The community too will benefit from the upgrading of ACT’s rental stock to be more energy and water efficient over time.

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