Page 1375 - Week 04 - Thursday, 30 March 2017
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need to work towards the more even spread of social and affordable housing across Canberra by developing a clear and transparent salt and pepper policy to guide future developments.
I was very pleased that the Greens were able to secure a commitment in the parliamentary agreement to create an innovation fund to support new approaches to affordable housing. These approaches include things like the HomeGround Real Estate Agency. This will be modelled on the one in Melbourne. It is a not-for-profit real estate agency which allows landlords to rent their houses at full market rent, reduced market rent or on a philanthropic basis. Management fees are redirected into affordable housing initiatives ensuring both a financial and a social return on investments.
Another approach particularly dear to my heart is home share for older Canberrans in particular. This is a way to support people who have particular needs to live in their own home and get support from co-tenants. This is often the case for older people who are living in a house which suited a family but there may now only be one person and the co-tenant could well provide financial as well as practical support.
Another approach which is in the parliamentary agreement is the Nightingale model. This is an architect and owner-led model which aims to deliver high quality, well-designed multi-unit developments in existing suburbs. These have been designed to be below the existing market price by reducing the profit margin of developers and reducing property speculation, by delivering housing that people need, by providing options for downsizers and for families to stay in their preferred suburbs and by reducing some of the things that are not needed by everyone, for instance shared laundry facilities and reduced car parking.
This model has been particularly attractive to first homeowners who want to live close to the city but have been priced out. This model, of course, can operate, and has operated in Melbourne, without government financial support. But we are hoping that in the ACT there could be assistance in terms of identifying appropriate sites and project facilitation rather than any particular financial support.
For older people who may have particular needs, an option should be available that suits their needs and circumstances including ageing in place and particular needs of people with disabilities. That was why one of our plans during the election campaign was to ensure that new homes and apartments achieve the livable housing design silver level by 2010. This is a disability access plan.
In summary—I know I have got a little time left—one of the other things we need to look at is the taxation system which, in many cases, encourages owners to leave houses vacant. Most of that is in the commonwealth regime. I spoke about vacancy and land tax in this place last week. In conclusion, though, we all need housing and we need it to be affordable. (Time expired.)
MR PARTON (Brindabella) (4.06): I rise to speak to this matter of public importance, the importance of affordable housing. As individuals we are defined by many things. We are defined by our family, by our upbringing, by our culture, by our race. We are
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