Mr MILLS - 2010-05-05
During my reply to the Henderson budget blowout talking about the exorbitant cost of housing in Darwin, you interjected saying: ‘It is moderating’. What evidence can you present in this House to the fact that house prices are moderating, and how do you think Territorians who cannot afford the median house price of $540 000 in Darwin will respond to your heartless comment?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question from the Leader of the Opposition. Quarterly figures out this week show that rather than being at the top of the growth pack where Darwin had been with housing prices, what we are seeing is moderation in the housing sector. We have now slipped down to about fourth position. I will get that report brought to the Chamber and I will table it for the Leader of the Opposition.
The other thing, quite aside from the quarterly figures that came through, is I take the time to meet regularly with the Real Estate Institute of the Northern Territory. They are saying to me as well that they are seeing moderation in housing prices, but also an easing in the rental market availability. That is the very strong and clear feedback I am receiving from our own local Real Estate Institute.
In the Opposition Leader’s budget reply, there were no houses committed to whatsoever except for one halfway house. The capital spend in that would be $10m according to his speech; the recurrent spend, the operational spend - $15m. Calculations on a $10m capital spend would get about a 40-bed facility. To operate a 40-bed facility, it usually takes between $1m to $1.5m. One wonders, under this splurge, the oh, oh weird calculation of the opposition, would the tenants be getting caviar …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I remind you of Standing Order 113: succinct and answers relevant to the question.
Madam SPEAKER: Treasurer, you have the call.
Ms LAWRIE: I have finished.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question from the Leader of the Opposition. Quarterly figures out this week show that rather than being at the top of the growth pack where Darwin had been with housing prices, what we are seeing is moderation in the housing sector. We have now slipped down to about fourth position. I will get that report brought to the Chamber and I will table it for the Leader of the Opposition.
The other thing, quite aside from the quarterly figures that came through, is I take the time to meet regularly with the Real Estate Institute of the Northern Territory. They are saying to me as well that they are seeing moderation in housing prices, but also an easing in the rental market availability. That is the very strong and clear feedback I am receiving from our own local Real Estate Institute.
In the Opposition Leader’s budget reply, there were no houses committed to whatsoever except for one halfway house. The capital spend in that would be $10m according to his speech; the recurrent spend, the operational spend - $15m. Calculations on a $10m capital spend would get about a 40-bed facility. To operate a 40-bed facility, it usually takes between $1m to $1.5m. One wonders, under this splurge, the oh, oh weird calculation of the opposition, would the tenants be getting caviar …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I remind you of Standing Order 113: succinct and answers relevant to the question.
Madam SPEAKER: Treasurer, you have the call.
Ms LAWRIE: I have finished.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016