Mr GILES - 2009-11-26
That was an interesting statement to listen to. It is good to hear about the town camp decision today and the $150m program which will build around 40 houses.
The same Real Estate Institute report referred to in the previous question by the Leader of the Opposition shows that the median price of a house in Alice Springs is $410 000, up 9.2% on the June quarter, and a massive 30.4% on the same time period last year. Can you explain why house prices in Alice Springs have gone through the roof, and the links between cost of housing and reports of people living in cars and tents in Alice Springs?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Braitling for his question. Obviously, the member for Braitling wants to see the value of people’s homes in Alice Springs actually decrease. That is the logical inference of what he wants. He wants to see, and the CLP want to see …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … people’s house prices decrease …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Braitling!
Mr HENDERSON: … that is the inference, that somehow a 9% increase in the value of the greatest asset someone builds in their life, for most people, is somehow a bad thing. That was the inference from the question put by the member for Braitling.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Fong Lim!
Mr HENDERSON: It is obvious that if the CLP had its way, they would enact policies to actually see people’s house values decrease. That would be the CLP’s policy.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: I have explained that we live in a market economy where there are the forces of supply and demand. Given the strength of demand, given the fact that we are a government which has delivered a growing economy, 4000 new jobs in the Northern Territory in the last year, everywhere else in Australia and most places around the world …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … the dole queues were lengthening. A growing economy increases pressure on demand, and we are responding on the supply side of the equation. As I announced, we are working with the private sector, working with Lhere Artepe, releasing government land and rezoning government land.
We will do that in a controlled way which does not see the greatest asset that most people own in their life get devalued, as was the inference in the member for Braitling’s question.
The same Real Estate Institute report referred to in the previous question by the Leader of the Opposition shows that the median price of a house in Alice Springs is $410 000, up 9.2% on the June quarter, and a massive 30.4% on the same time period last year. Can you explain why house prices in Alice Springs have gone through the roof, and the links between cost of housing and reports of people living in cars and tents in Alice Springs?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Braitling for his question. Obviously, the member for Braitling wants to see the value of people’s homes in Alice Springs actually decrease. That is the logical inference of what he wants. He wants to see, and the CLP want to see …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … people’s house prices decrease …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Braitling!
Mr HENDERSON: … that is the inference, that somehow a 9% increase in the value of the greatest asset someone builds in their life, for most people, is somehow a bad thing. That was the inference from the question put by the member for Braitling.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Fong Lim!
Mr HENDERSON: It is obvious that if the CLP had its way, they would enact policies to actually see people’s house values decrease. That would be the CLP’s policy.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: I have explained that we live in a market economy where there are the forces of supply and demand. Given the strength of demand, given the fact that we are a government which has delivered a growing economy, 4000 new jobs in the Northern Territory in the last year, everywhere else in Australia and most places around the world …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … the dole queues were lengthening. A growing economy increases pressure on demand, and we are responding on the supply side of the equation. As I announced, we are working with the private sector, working with Lhere Artepe, releasing government land and rezoning government land.
We will do that in a controlled way which does not see the greatest asset that most people own in their life get devalued, as was the inference in the member for Braitling’s question.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016