Mr GUNNER - 2008-10-28
Can you please advise the Assembly on the economic benefits of the Buildstart Scheme?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question from the member for Fannie Bay. There are vacant lots coming on to the marketplace in his very own electorate that this Buildstart Scheme will be quite appropriate for. Alongside the Chief Minister, yesterday, I was happy to announce the Territory government’s Buildstart Scheme. It is designed to help Territorians who are not first homebuyers. As the Chief Minister said, it is complementary to the federal government’s economic stimulus package. We are looking for people to come and invest in the Territory and Territorians to invest in the Territory, but this scheme is also available, obviously, for interstate investors to stimulate that economic activity that construction provides to the Territory.
Buildstart as you have heard, provides a grant of $14 000 for people who are buying or building a new house or, indeed, buying a new unit. It is a potential $6m injection into the Territory’s building industry, and a potential $6m investment into our economy right now. We estimate there are something like 800 new properties that can result from Buildstart; that is, both houses and units. With approximately 50 applications per month, that will provide more housing stock and, importantly, more rental options for Territorians.
The building sector is very excited about this initiative, because it will see people move on the vacant blocks on which they have been sitting, and get that all-important construction under way. We acknowledge our booming economy and our high population growth has led to pressure on the rental market. Buildstart will result in more houses and units being built, easing the pressure on rents and helping Territorians into home ownership, or to purchase their investment property.
Ms Toni Vine Bromley of NT Shelter, an advocate for more affordable housing, said today that this measure actually does something quickly, and ‘… will free up existing properties where people are planning to build’ ...
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! It is a positive; that being, the connection between the question and the answer is remarkably close. It is quite different when the opposition asks questions.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, there is no point of order. Resume your seat.
Mr Mills: You got the message.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: Madam Speaker, yesterday we heard a familiar story where a local family had purchased land some two years ago and had not yet built, looking at the interest rates that had risen and that we now see are coming down and, indeed, the rise in construction costs which affect the decision about whether or not to build. Buildstart will provide that family with the kick-start that they need to make their investment housing dream affordable - a $14 000 reason to build a home.
Already, my office has taken a number calls this morning from excited landowners keen to get their housing construction under way or people looking to buy a new unit. The $6m Buildstart stimulus to boost housing construction has been welcomed by the construction industry, the real estate industry, affordable housing advocates, and Territorians. It is a fresh idea that will deliver real results.
Madam Speaker, the CLP do not support it. They have no ideas - just negatives, just whingeing - and they want to talk down the Territory.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question from the member for Fannie Bay. There are vacant lots coming on to the marketplace in his very own electorate that this Buildstart Scheme will be quite appropriate for. Alongside the Chief Minister, yesterday, I was happy to announce the Territory government’s Buildstart Scheme. It is designed to help Territorians who are not first homebuyers. As the Chief Minister said, it is complementary to the federal government’s economic stimulus package. We are looking for people to come and invest in the Territory and Territorians to invest in the Territory, but this scheme is also available, obviously, for interstate investors to stimulate that economic activity that construction provides to the Territory.
Buildstart as you have heard, provides a grant of $14 000 for people who are buying or building a new house or, indeed, buying a new unit. It is a potential $6m injection into the Territory’s building industry, and a potential $6m investment into our economy right now. We estimate there are something like 800 new properties that can result from Buildstart; that is, both houses and units. With approximately 50 applications per month, that will provide more housing stock and, importantly, more rental options for Territorians.
The building sector is very excited about this initiative, because it will see people move on the vacant blocks on which they have been sitting, and get that all-important construction under way. We acknowledge our booming economy and our high population growth has led to pressure on the rental market. Buildstart will result in more houses and units being built, easing the pressure on rents and helping Territorians into home ownership, or to purchase their investment property.
Ms Toni Vine Bromley of NT Shelter, an advocate for more affordable housing, said today that this measure actually does something quickly, and ‘… will free up existing properties where people are planning to build’ ...
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! It is a positive; that being, the connection between the question and the answer is remarkably close. It is quite different when the opposition asks questions.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, there is no point of order. Resume your seat.
Mr Mills: You got the message.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: Madam Speaker, yesterday we heard a familiar story where a local family had purchased land some two years ago and had not yet built, looking at the interest rates that had risen and that we now see are coming down and, indeed, the rise in construction costs which affect the decision about whether or not to build. Buildstart will provide that family with the kick-start that they need to make their investment housing dream affordable - a $14 000 reason to build a home.
Already, my office has taken a number calls this morning from excited landowners keen to get their housing construction under way or people looking to buy a new unit. The $6m Buildstart stimulus to boost housing construction has been welcomed by the construction industry, the real estate industry, affordable housing advocates, and Territorians. It is a fresh idea that will deliver real results.
Madam Speaker, the CLP do not support it. They have no ideas - just negatives, just whingeing - and they want to talk down the Territory.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016