Page 871 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 24 February 2009
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
That Mr Coe provide to the Chief Minister before the close of business today the names and addresses of those who have complained to him about the ACT government land rent scheme.
In the context of the question that was asked, and most particularly the question asked me to apologise to those people that Mr Coe claims to have been in some way seriously affected by the land rent scheme—I will speak briefly because we have just had a broad-ranging debate, which I think would fulfil the needs of the debate that we might have now—and in the context of questions that have been asked today and the information that the government is able to provide—and some of this information has been provided to me and the Treasurer during question time—as at 23 February, 40 blocks are being held by the Land Development Agency on behalf of Canberrans, young Canberra families with incomes of less than $75,000 who would like to access the land rent scheme. Four blocks have been exchanged and one block has been settled.
As I have said repeatedly, the government has negotiated, since July last year when the scheme was launched, with all of the major banks in Australia and the financial sector more broadly. I am very pleased—as I have been saying—that we are in constructive, continuing negotiations with a major financial institution. The Canberra Times choose not to believe that. The Liberal Party choose not to believe that. I have to say, as a result of the nature of the article provided by the Canberra Times and the way in which it was written—the very negative, condescending and critical way in which the article was written—we see a rash of letters to the editor today all suggesting that the scheme has ended, that it is over, that it is flawed. We see the Liberal Party today mounting a sustained attack on the land rent scheme, actually creating genuine concern and distress, I am sure, which has probably led to some people contacting their representatives in this place as a result. It is one of those circles in life, a very negative media article on the front page of the Canberra Times which does not reflect the reality of the negotiations and refuses to believe that the government is in serious, constructive negotiations with a financial institution.
I acknowledge that perhaps it is a result of some of the negativity and the wholesale attack by the Liberal Party, most particularly, the non-believing. I am very proud and pleased now to be able to announce that a major financial institution has given its approval in principle to provide this loan product for the land rent scheme. It is a tremendous result for Canberra. It is a vindication of the land rent scheme. It is a fantastic scheme. It is a tremendous and innovative scheme. It gives genuine hope to Canberra families, struggling Canberra families—the families that the Liberal Party has abandoned and the families for whom the Liberal Party has no plan, no view, no vision and no concern. So it is with enormous pleasure that I can announce that we have today achieved approval in principle from a major financial institution who has some issues in relation to prudential regulation to finalise, and we hope that they will be successfully finalised. But as of today a major financial institution, which has asked not to be named—
Members interjecting—
MR STANHOPE: Keep attacking the scheme. There is only so much egg that can be taken to cover the faces of the Liberal Party in relation to this scheme. It is a fantastic,
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .