Page 862 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 24 February 2009
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as a result of that. I do not know if that has completely slipped past the opposition’s radar. But it should not be any surprise that the banks are more risk averse, perhaps, at the moment than they have been in some time.
We do not accept that it is a stalled land rent scheme. The land rent scheme is actively being pursued. I can answer in relation to one of the questions—
Mr Hanson: Mr Speaker, point of order. It is a fairly simple question, Mr Speaker, on a point of order on relevance. The question is: has any family struggling to enter the housing market through your scheme received lending support? It is a simple yes-no, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Ms Gallagher.
MS GALLAGHER: Thank you, Mr Speaker, but I can choose to answer the question as I see fit without instructions from the person who asked the question. There has been significant interest in this scheme. Let us talk about the numbers of people who have been involved. I think this goes to the question that Mr Smyth asked me earlier. Three hundred and forty people have attended information sessions on this scheme. For the beginning of a scheme such as this, I would have thought that that is quite a significant level of interest, showing that there is a level of demand within the community for access to a product such as this. This government is actively pursuing the scheme.
Mr Smyth: So how many built a house as a consequence?
MS GALLAGHER: At the moment, nobody has received lending.
Mr Smyth: Nobody.
MS GALLAGHER: I do not think that is—
Mr Stanhope: Not that we are aware of.
MS GALLAGHER: Yes.
Mr Hanson: So nobody. That is the answer.
MS GALLAGHER: So because it has not reached—
Mr Hanson: How long has it been?
MS GALLAGHER: Because nobody has received it, we should just stop it? Is that the line that you are putting now? Is that what you are saying—that we should not actively pursue a policy response that tries to meet the needs of income earners under $75,000, having access to a product because they cannot afford the standard home and land package? Is that what you are saying—that because at the moment—
Mr Hanson: They do not have access to it because no-one will lend them the money.
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