Page 1455 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 6 May 2008
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contains capital funding of $24.6 million and recurrent funding of $4.4 million over four years for this transformation.
An Arts Hub will be established at Cook, a Health and Wellbeing Hub at Melrose and a community services hub at Weston. Neighbourhood Halls will be created in these and 6 other locations, opening up valuable community spaces and helping revitalise local precincts.
Mr Speaker, housing affordability is a concern and a challenge for all jurisdictions.
While relatively high wages have shielded many in our community from the worst effects of the affordability challenge, the Government is acutely conscious that some in our community are experiencing housing stress or having difficulty getting a foothold in the housing market.
The comprehensive Affordable Housing Action Plan the Government released last year has been a model for others to follow.
Last Budget, it was backed up with significant funding for implementation, and a staggering amount has been achieved in a short period.
Land releases have been significantly boosted. A requirement that developments comprise 15 per cent affordable house and land packages is delivering greater choice for buyers. House-and-land packages priced between $200,000 and $300,000 are appearing on the market.
Just last week I announced a land release program that would see more than 15,000 dwelling sites released over the next five years to conquer pent-up demand.
This Budget contains $33.5 million for the servicing and preparation of new housing developments.
In this sitting of the Assembly, we introduce a land rent scheme that will create even greater choice and help households with quite modest incomes enter the market with less trepidation and less anxiety.
I am also extremely pleased to announce today a one-off and complete exemption from stamp duty for pensioners who want to downsize and move to accommodation more suited to their needs.
This exemption will be available to Disability Support cardholders, Veteran Affairs Gold cardholders and recipients of the age pension, on the purchase of a dwelling up to the median price.
This exemption will start on 1 July and will be available for three years.
The 2008-09 Budget also increases the threshold for eligibility for the Home Buyer Concession Scheme. Currently it supports households with an income up to $100,000. From today, this will rise to $120,000—a 20 per cent increase.
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