Page 4816 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 20 October 2010

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The Assembly voted—

Ayes 6

Noes 10

Mr Coe

Mr Smyth

Mr Barr

Mr Hargreaves

Mr Doszpot

Ms Bresnan

Ms Hunter

Mrs Dunne

Ms Burch

Ms Le Couteur

Mr Hanson

Mr Corbell

Ms Porter

Mr Seselja

Ms Gallagher

Mr Rattenbury

Question so resolved in the negative.

Amendment negatived.

MS BRESNAN (Brindabella) (9.00): I will be very quick, because I know it is late. I just wanted to say it is a shame that this motion is going to go down today because I think it would have made a very positive contribution to the whole debate. What a definitional change will do is ensure people on lower incomes, including those in the lower medium income bracket, are accounted for. The anecdotes I provided in my speech, including that of the family interested—

Mr Hanson: On a point of order, Mr Speaker, there is an agreement between the three parties in this place that the Assembly will adjourn at 9 o’clock. I call for you to ask that the question be put immediately, Mr Speaker.

MR SPEAKER: Mr Hanson, there is nothing in the standing orders that can require me to do that, so there is no point of order.

MS BRESNAN: I am just wrapping up, Mr Speaker. I did say I would be quick. We have 10 minutes. The anecdotes I provided in my speech, including that of the family interested in the land rent scheme and OwnPlace, show that there are a significant number of people who do not qualify for these programs, who cannot afford to purchase a home in the general market and who also do not qualify for public housing. The Acting Chief Minister said a change of definition will not increase the number of properties, but I will say again that, in order to consider the ongoing affordability of a home, we need to consider who are the people in danger of being in housing stress and not being able to make rent or mortgage payments and also pay bills and meet the daily costs of living.

I will note again that other jurisdictions, primarily New South Wales and Queensland, are including running costs as a basic policy principle. If we do not adopt an accurate definition of what actually is affordable then properties might increase regardless of what the definition is, but we will continue to have properties that will be unaffordable for people to live in.

Question put:

That the motion be agreed to.

The Assembly voted—

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