Page 882 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 2 April 2008
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Let me repeat that: in the ACT, the figure is 21 per cent. In New South Wales, 34 per cent of the average household income goes on the mortgage. In Victoria, 36 per cent of the average household income goes on the mortgage. In Queensland, 38 per cent of the average household income goes on the mortgage. In South Australia, 35 per cent of the average household income goes on the mortgage. In Western Australia and Tasmania, 33 per cent of the average household income goes on the mortgage. In the ACT, 21 per cent of the average household income goes on the mortgage.
The proportion of income needed to make rent repayments reveals a similar picture. In the December quarter 2007, the proportion of the family income devoted to meeting median rents in the ACT was 16.6 per cent. Nationally, the proportion of family income devoted to meeting median rents was 23.9 per cent. Across the border in New South Wales, it was 24.8 per cent. In Victoria, it was 20.6 per cent. In Queensland, it was 25.1 per cent. In South Australia, it was 24.5 per cent. In Western Australia, it was 23.8 per cent. In Tasmania, it was 28.4 per cent. In the Northern Territory, it was 26.1 per cent. And what was it in the ACT? In the ACT, it was 16.6 per cent.
No-one denies that there is enormous demand for housing in the ACT; there is. While we in the ACT fare well in the measures that I have just mentioned, some in our community, as I said, are finding it more difficult to access affordable housing than has been the case at certain other periods in our history. A number of complexities have led to that position. That is why the Labor government, my government, established the Affordable Housing Task Group, as far back as 2006. It is why, a year ago, we released the country’s most far-reaching and comprehensive action plan on the issue—a plan that is now being looked at by other jurisdictions, and even by some jurisdictions overseas.
In fact, some of the initiatives developed by Labor here in the ACT have been adopted by the Council of Australian Governments as a way of addressing housing affordability nationally. Indeed, I received just today a recent report which quotes Michael Wellsmore, the President of the Real Estate Institute of the ACT, as saying, in relation to the ACT government’s housing affordability strategy, that he welcomed the initiative. He went on to say: “I think it’s brilliant.” That was said by the President of the Real Estate Institute of the ACT. What does he think about the ACT housing affordability strategy? He says—
Mrs Burke: When do we see it work?
Mrs Dunne: Let’s see it work.
MR STANHOPE: Let me just finish that quote from Mr Michael Wellsmore, the President of the Real Estate Institute of the ACT. When he was asked to comment on the ACT housing affordability strategy, Mr Wellsmore said, “I think it’s brilliant.” Indeed, other governments do as well.
As I say, the Council of Australian Governments has adopted parts of the action plan. The action plan includes a range of initiatives right across the accommodation
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