Mr MITCHELL - 1998-04-29
How will the new strategy ensure that the Territory's aged pensioners will continue to enjoy the lowest rents in Australia?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Millner for that question. He asks how the strategy affects aged pensioners in the Northern Territory ...
Mr Stirling: He had them write it for him. He couldn't have written it himself.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Nhulunbuy.
Mr BALDWIN: Madam Speaker, the member for Nhulunbuy may not be interested in what happens to aged pensioners in the Northern Territory. Certainly, the Northern Territory government is very interested. I can assure the member for Millner and all other members that, under the Housing 2003 strategy, aged pensioners will continue to enjoy the most affordable and the most accessible public housing in Australia.
The strategy for aged pensioners is very simple. The first point to note is that, for current aged pensioner tenants, there will be no rent rises. At present, they pay 14% of current income in the Northern Territory and that will continue. The national average rent for aged pensioners is 25% of their income. We are proposing that current tenants continue to pay 14%. For aged pensioners, coming from the waiting list into our new housing, as it is
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developed, the contribution will rise to 18% of their income. That will continue to be the lowest in Australia - still the most affordable and still the most accessible.
The Housing 2003 strategy, with an $88m construction program over the next 5 years, will ensure that waiting lists, for aged pensioners in particular, will reduce by more than half. Nobody in the aged pensioner category will be disappointed. Village-style accommodation will be provided, consisting of 1- and 2-bedroom units. Up to 1000 will be spread through the northern suburbs of Darwin and Palmerston and there will be some in Alice Springs. They will be set among current developments - not in the middle of nowhere. They will be village-style developments with very nice accommodation units and all sorts of amenities that are not available at the moment.
No one will be forced to move out of their current home. In the past, senior Territorians tended to retire in the southern states. Now, I think, more and more are staying in the Territory. We will encourage that trend. We look after our senior citizens in the Northern Territory.
Again, I ask the member for Arnhem, the shadow spokesman for housing, to take up my offer of a briefing. I noted that, the other day on Fred McCue's radio show, he said that aged pensioner rents will increase. He should get it right. He should not be spreading alarm among the aged pensioner group. They are very happy with the housing strategy. Speaking to the Council on the Ageing the other day ...
Mr Ah Kit interjecting.
Mr BALDWIN: I urge the member for Arnhem to obtain a briefing, help spread the word and act cooperatively in this most innovative housing program seen in the Northern Territory.
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ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Millner for that question. He asks how the strategy affects aged pensioners in the Northern Territory ...
Mr Stirling: He had them write it for him. He couldn't have written it himself.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Nhulunbuy.
Mr BALDWIN: Madam Speaker, the member for Nhulunbuy may not be interested in what happens to aged pensioners in the Northern Territory. Certainly, the Northern Territory government is very interested. I can assure the member for Millner and all other members that, under the Housing 2003 strategy, aged pensioners will continue to enjoy the most affordable and the most accessible public housing in Australia.
The strategy for aged pensioners is very simple. The first point to note is that, for current aged pensioner tenants, there will be no rent rises. At present, they pay 14% of current income in the Northern Territory and that will continue. The national average rent for aged pensioners is 25% of their income. We are proposing that current tenants continue to pay 14%. For aged pensioners, coming from the waiting list into our new housing, as it is
Page 223
developed, the contribution will rise to 18% of their income. That will continue to be the lowest in Australia - still the most affordable and still the most accessible.
The Housing 2003 strategy, with an $88m construction program over the next 5 years, will ensure that waiting lists, for aged pensioners in particular, will reduce by more than half. Nobody in the aged pensioner category will be disappointed. Village-style accommodation will be provided, consisting of 1- and 2-bedroom units. Up to 1000 will be spread through the northern suburbs of Darwin and Palmerston and there will be some in Alice Springs. They will be set among current developments - not in the middle of nowhere. They will be village-style developments with very nice accommodation units and all sorts of amenities that are not available at the moment.
No one will be forced to move out of their current home. In the past, senior Territorians tended to retire in the southern states. Now, I think, more and more are staying in the Territory. We will encourage that trend. We look after our senior citizens in the Northern Territory.
Again, I ask the member for Arnhem, the shadow spokesman for housing, to take up my offer of a briefing. I noted that, the other day on Fred McCue's radio show, he said that aged pensioner rents will increase. He should get it right. He should not be spreading alarm among the aged pensioner group. They are very happy with the housing strategy. Speaking to the Council on the Ageing the other day ...
Mr Ah Kit interjecting.
Mr BALDWIN: I urge the member for Arnhem to obtain a briefing, help spread the word and act cooperatively in this most innovative housing program seen in the Northern Territory.
Page 224
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016