Page 1759 - Week 06 - Thursday, 30 July 2020

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(2) further notes that:

(a) residential dwelling construction in the ACT is performing strongly, as reflected in the Commonwealth Bank’s July 2020 State of the States report, which showed the ACT currently leads the nation for dwelling construction starts, with starts in the ACT 21.7 percent above the decade-average in trend terms;

(b) on 4 June, the ACT Government announced a range of measures to support people to purchase their own home, as well as stimulate the residential construction sector by reducing stamp duty on new land single residential blocks to zero; off-the-plan apartment and townhouse purchases up to $500 000, to zero; and off-the-plan apartment and townhouse purchases between $500 000 and $750 000, by $11 400, available until July 2021; and

(c) on 17 June, the Government announced average rates increases for residential land would be set at 0 percent for the 2020-21 financial year, which combined with the one-off $150 Covid-19 economic survival package rates rebate, means that over 100 000 residences in the ACT will see an actual reduction in their rates bill this financial year;

(3) also notes that:

(a) each year, the ACT Government releases an Indicative Land Release Program to provide certainty to builders, developers, investors and residential owner-occupiers;

(b) there are currently 346 single residential blocks available over the counter through the Suburban Land Agency and the Ginninderry development, as at 20 July 2020, starting at $197 000; and

(c) there are currently 188 blocks available through the Suburban Land Agency and from the Ginninderry development, as at 20 July 2020, which are priced below $420 000;

(4) calls on the ACT Government to:

(a) continue its policy of a compact and sustainable city, with a land supply program that provides a range of accommodation types to cater for individuals, couples, groups and families of all shapes and sizes as the city grows;

(b) continue to help more people transition to home ownership through stamp duty cuts;

(d) continue to implement its affordable housing agenda and work towards further diversifying housing choice consistent with the ACT Housing Strategy; and

(5) calls on the Legislative Assembly to commit to protect Tuggeranong natural grasslands west of the Murrumbidgee from urban housing development.”.

The amendment I move notes that over the terms of the Assembly the government has implemented a range of measures to support and protect people renting in the ACT, including and protecting renters from excessive rent increases and making it easier for renters to end leases without incurring punitive costs.

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