Page 1042 - Week 03 - Thursday, 26 February 2009
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boost is an Australian government funded initiative announced by the Prime Minister to stimulate housing activity and give first homebuyers a better chance in the housing market. The initiative will help strengthen the Australian economy during the global financial crisis and help protect Australia during the current difficult global economic times. The ACT government is pleased to be able to assist the Australian government in providing boost payments to first homebuyers. Administering the boost payments together with the first home owner grant provides administrative efficiencies for both government and first homebuyers.
The ACT government offers a range of assistance to homebuyers in the ACT, including first homeowner grants, duty concessions under the homebuyer concession scheme, duty concessions for pensioners purchasing property more suited to their needs under the pensioner duty concession scheme, a deferred duty scheme for eligible homebuyers, affordable house and land packages, and land rent options.
The boost together with the ACT government’s housing affordability initiatives are important measures providing assistance to homebuyers in the ACT in these difficult times. The boost provides an additional $7,000 to first homebuyers purchasing an established home and an additional $14,000 to first homebuyers purchasing a newly constructed home. Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements for the existing first homeowner grant and enter into a contract on or after 14 October 2008 and on or before 30 June 2009. In total, applicants who are eligible for the boost and the first homeowner grant will be eligible to receive up to $21,000 in grants.
The bill provides the necessary legislative amendments to implement the terms and conditions that the Australian government has set for the administration of the boost. Other amendments contained in this bill ensure that there are adequate provisions for objection rights, along with provisions to prevent misuse of the scheme. I commend the First Home Owner Grant Amendment Bill 2009 to the Assembly.
Debate (on motion by Mr Smyth) adjourned to the next sitting.
Workers Compensation (Terrorism) Amendment Bill 2009
Mr Hargreaves, pursuant to notice, presented the bill, its explanatory statement and a Human Rights Act compatibility statement.
Title read by Clerk.
MR HARGREAVES (Brindabella—Minister for Disability and Housing, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Corrections) (10.24): I move:
That this bill be agreed to in principle.
The Workers Compensation (Terrorism) Amendment Bill 2009 will amend the Workers Compensation Act 1951 to extend the operation of the temporary reinsurance fund in the event of a terrorist incident to 1 April 2012.
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