Page 2881 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 24 June 2009
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The government is working with the commonwealth on implementing the national rental affordability scheme, designed to deliver rental properties 20 per cent under market rent. CHC has won the national rental affordability scheme grant to deliver over 30 properties across Canberra by the end of this financial year.
The government is also aware of issues faced by older Canberrans, many of whom are living in family homes which far exceed their needs and, realistically, their capabilities to maintain them. In order to assist pensioners who have difficulties in moving into more suitable accommodation, the government has introduced the pensioner duty concession scheme for people on age or disability pensions or who are veteran gold card holders.
This government is keenly aware of the affordability issues facing first homeowners and renters, and we are doing something about it. These initiatives are successfully tackling the problem and these initiatives are not just about short-term fixes; they are long-term solutions.
We as a government will continue to look for new ideas and opportunities to make housing more affordable and we have now embarked on phase 2 of the affordable housing plan, which will focus on the issues of homelessness as well as affordable accommodation for older Canberrans. I commend the motion to members.
MR HARGREAVES (Brindabella—Minister for Disability and Housing, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Corrections) (4.16): I was taken a bit by surprise because I had thought that the opposition may have wanted to contribute to the debate.
Mr Hanson: I was here. I just did not expect Ms Burch to finish in five minutes.
MR HARGREAVES: I am not being critical here at all. Please do not take it the wrong way. I know you are likely to, but do not take it the wrong way. I was just taken a bit by surprise. Now that I am on my feet, I will speak to the motion. It is a bit unfortunate because I will not be able to respond to whatever comes across the chamber. I think we were all a bit taken by surprise.
Mr Hanson: You were sitting there reading a magazine instead of listening to the speech.
MR HARGREAVES: I was listening to that, and I had hoped that someone like your good self, representing the giant minds that we know and are used to in this chamber, might have actually contributed to the debate, but I was sadly disappointed. I am just so disappointed now. Life is tough.
In April 2007, the Chief Minister announced the ACT affordable housing action plan. The plan was a comprehensive strategy designed to increase the supply of affordable housing in Canberra and to help more people achieve the dream of homeownership. The action plan includes 62 initiatives focused on improving long-term housing affordability for Canberrans, rather than quick fixes. The strategy recognises that
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