Mr SETTER - 1995-11-23
Several years ago, the government introduced what I thought were a number of excellent schemes, depending on the needs of the potential purchaser, for assisting new home owners. They were very popular at the time but I understand that, in recent ...
Mr Bailey: Is this a question or a statement?
Mr SETTER: ... times, not as many people have been taking advantage of the schemes. What are the minister's plans to promote the schemes to enable more Territorians to avail themselves of them and move into their own housing?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I think this is a relevant question although I can understand members opposite not wanting to hear the question or the answer. They have a philosophical problem with people owning their own houses.
Members interjecting.
Mr MANZIE: Certainly, I have seen no support from them for our home loan initiatives. The only response I have ever seen from them on this in the Assembly has been in the form of moves against our trying to introduce such schemes. They have to live with that.
The fact is that this government is very keen to ensure that Territorians have opportunities to purchase their own homes in a way which gives them an advantage over purchasing homes in other parts of Australia. I think all members are aware that the overall affordability of home purchase in the Territory is the best in Australia, in terms of the average
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monthly repayments compared with average weekly earnings. As a government, we intend to continue giving Territorians those opportunities.
The member for Jingili pointed out quite rightly that a number of very successful home purchase schemes are managed through the Housing Commission. The HomeNorth schemes were started in 1990. Over 1400 people have taken advantage of those schemes since then. That is almost one person a day, which is not a bad record for purchasing houses through one of our HomeNorth schemes. There are a number of schemes, some of which are a little complicated at first sight, but we will be running a marketing campaign which will commence tomorrow. It will be run ...
Members interjecting.
Mr Bailey: Explain it slowly to him.
Mr MANZIE: The member for Wanguri interjects continually. He does not want the community to understand about this. He realises that, when people have a stake in the Territory and an opportunity to buy their house and become settled, they begin to take an interest in politics. They look around, see what is on offer from members opposite and make pretty good long-range decisions about their security. The first decision they make is that they do not want members opposite in government and that they will stick with the CLP because it gives opportunities to Territorians. That is the reason why the member for Wanguri interjects continually. He does not want Territorians to hear about the positive actions of this government because, at the end of the day, he knows that it will affect his future - and a good thing too.
We will be running this campaign in all major shopping centres in Katherine, Darwin, Casuarina, Palmerston and Alice Springs to allow people to see the opportunities that are available to them with differing levels of income. The different schemes range from a shared equity scheme to Early Start deposit assistance grants. There is the Easy Start first mortgage low interest scheme, an interest subsidy scheme and a sales scheme for the tenants of Housing Commission houses. All provide opportunities to Territorians. All are initiatives of this government. All are schemes which, philosophically, the ALP does not support.
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Mr Bailey: Is this a question or a statement?
Mr SETTER: ... times, not as many people have been taking advantage of the schemes. What are the minister's plans to promote the schemes to enable more Territorians to avail themselves of them and move into their own housing?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I think this is a relevant question although I can understand members opposite not wanting to hear the question or the answer. They have a philosophical problem with people owning their own houses.
Members interjecting.
Mr MANZIE: Certainly, I have seen no support from them for our home loan initiatives. The only response I have ever seen from them on this in the Assembly has been in the form of moves against our trying to introduce such schemes. They have to live with that.
The fact is that this government is very keen to ensure that Territorians have opportunities to purchase their own homes in a way which gives them an advantage over purchasing homes in other parts of Australia. I think all members are aware that the overall affordability of home purchase in the Territory is the best in Australia, in terms of the average
Page 1041
monthly repayments compared with average weekly earnings. As a government, we intend to continue giving Territorians those opportunities.
The member for Jingili pointed out quite rightly that a number of very successful home purchase schemes are managed through the Housing Commission. The HomeNorth schemes were started in 1990. Over 1400 people have taken advantage of those schemes since then. That is almost one person a day, which is not a bad record for purchasing houses through one of our HomeNorth schemes. There are a number of schemes, some of which are a little complicated at first sight, but we will be running a marketing campaign which will commence tomorrow. It will be run ...
Members interjecting.
Mr Bailey: Explain it slowly to him.
Mr MANZIE: The member for Wanguri interjects continually. He does not want the community to understand about this. He realises that, when people have a stake in the Territory and an opportunity to buy their house and become settled, they begin to take an interest in politics. They look around, see what is on offer from members opposite and make pretty good long-range decisions about their security. The first decision they make is that they do not want members opposite in government and that they will stick with the CLP because it gives opportunities to Territorians. That is the reason why the member for Wanguri interjects continually. He does not want Territorians to hear about the positive actions of this government because, at the end of the day, he knows that it will affect his future - and a good thing too.
We will be running this campaign in all major shopping centres in Katherine, Darwin, Casuarina, Palmerston and Alice Springs to allow people to see the opportunities that are available to them with differing levels of income. The different schemes range from a shared equity scheme to Early Start deposit assistance grants. There is the Easy Start first mortgage low interest scheme, an interest subsidy scheme and a sales scheme for the tenants of Housing Commission houses. All provide opportunities to Territorians. All are initiatives of this government. All are schemes which, philosophically, the ALP does not support.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016