Page 2842 - Week 09 - Thursday, 13 August 2015
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
approximately, six months; high needs housing, approximately two years; standard housing, approximately two years and three months. In addition, there is the management-initiated waiting list.
Back in 2007 the former Chief Minister Jon Stanhope presented an affordable housing action plan. Recently in June former Chief Minister Stanhope spoke about one of the greatest regrets of his time as Chief Minister being the lack of action by this government on the affordable housing action plan. I will read an excerpt from page 5 of that plan:
The strategy aims to support the supply of affordable housing and to ensure that all individuals, irrespective of circumstances, are able to access accommodation suitable to their needs. The Strategy adopted by the Government is to:
1. allow the housing market to operate as efficiently as possible through ensuring sufficient supply of land and stabilise house prices in a period of growth;
2. maintain a planning and land release system that supports the delivery of an adequate supply of land and is responsive to changing demand;
3. ensure competition in the market to deliver cost efficiencies;
4. facilitate diversity in housing products and prices through the planning regime to deliver an innovative, affordable house and land package;
5. facilitate growth in the community and not for profit housing sector and encourage shared equity;
6. make efficient and effective use of public housing assets;
7. support the delivery of adequate supplies of private rental properties to stabilise rental vacancy rates; and
8. encourage industry cooperation in demonstration villages and estates and through advisory processes, and through support of projects that complement the Government’s affordable housing objectives.
Exactly what is this government doing to implement this strategy, or has it dropped off the government’s radar now because all they are thinking about is light rail? A second version relating to housing for older Canberrans was released, I think in 2009. Another recommendation in this year’s estimates report is about addressing the housing needs of older Canberrans. We have these strategies. This government is great at coming up with plans and strategies and releasing concept drawings, but where is the action on addressing affordable housing for vulnerable Canberrans? Why is the government not doing more about housing affordability? Why is it not presenting us with updates and status reports on the affordable housing action plan?
Page 15 of affordable housing action plan outlines the objectives and initiatives relating to public housing. One of those initiatives is:
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video