Page 5417 - Week 14 - Thursday, 30 November 2017
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MS BERRY: The actual number I will have to take on notice for this point in time. Of course, that will move depending on when houses are being built and when they are completed for purchase. But I want to note for the Assembly’s information an article in the paper last week. It is headed, “Canberra has an oversupply of housing, according to new research from the Australian National University.” It states:
Canberra has the biggest oversupply of housing of any jurisdiction other than the northern Territory, according to this research.
In the ACT we have a surplus of 6,700 dwellings relative to that assumed balance—
Mr Parton: Point of order, Madam Speaker.
MADAM SPEAKER: Resume your seat, please, minister.
Mr Parton: Point of order, Madam Speaker, on relevance. The question was specifically about affordable houses for families with incomes under $100,000—
MADAM SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr Parton, but the minister started by taking the first part of that question on notice and is providing additional information in the broad policy area. Minister, do you want to continue?
MS BERRY: Yes, thank you, I do, Madam Speaker. As I said, in the ACT, the report says that there is a surplus of 6,700 dwellings relative to an assumed balance of housing in 2001 and that Belconnen and the inner north and south have the most substantial housing surplus, mostly driven by unit development, of course. The report states:
Dr Phillips, whose calculations are based on population numbers and the number of people in each household, said more homes had been built than population growth demanded.
I think that was an interesting article to bring to the attention of the Assembly to show the number of houses and dwellings in the ACT that have been developed over the past couple of years and that the ACT government is meeting the demand for housing in the ACT.
MR PARTON: Irrespective of any Ben Phillips report, can the minister explain why housing that is affordable for families earning under $100,000 has disappeared almost completely under the Labor-Greens government?
MS BERRY: It is missing the whole point of the challenges and the complexity around housing and housing affordability. There is never one part of this whole complex story that can resolve the issues that each state and territory is facing under this federal government. It is not about placing blame on any federal government, but a bold and courageous government could make the changes that would make a real difference for states and territories to be able to provide more housing for people who need it. That is the real thing that we need addressed here. The ACT government has
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