Ms SCRYMGOUR - 2012-03-27
Can you please advise the House of initiatives undertaken by the Henderson government to deliver more affordable housing to Territorians?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, we are investing very heavily in affordable housing for Territorians. As I mentioned before, I met with the principals of the affordable rental housing company we have established in Darwin. They are looking at, of course, the project at Wirrina which is nearing completion. That will be complete within a very short time. Of the around 100 units, approximately half of those are for social and affordable housing. The rents will be at least 20% below market rent.
They are also examining quite a large block - well, more than examining; they will be moving forward on a large block at Driver and further developments there.
There has been considerable investment into social housing across the Territory by the Commonwealth government, particularly within Alice Springs. I commend the federal government; it invested approximately $45m to $50m for over 200 dwellings. That has been a welcome addition. We have also undertaken to have 150 dwellings over three years with $50m as part of our housing budget.
We recognise it is difficult within the Territory. We recognise the pressures on families with rent and purchasing houses, but we are opening up land at record rates in Palmerston. I urge members opposite to take a drive around Johnston, Bellamack and beyond. This is a government that is investing in infrastructure.
The disappointing thing for me is that the opposition members are quick to criticise, but they are slow on solutions. As I mentioned before, their manifesto has a skimming reference to housing, but no detail or costings. To get housing, you have to put headworks in; you have to invest. Until the opposition has a credible policy for housing and costings against what they want to do, it is just fairly empty. It is very thin on details. There was much polemic and political ideology in there, as you would expect in a manifesto ...
Members interjecting.
Dr BURNS: Oh, comrade?
Members interjecting.
Dr BURNS: Karl Marx from Port Darwin.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Dr BURNS: Madam Speaker, we are serious about housing. The opposition just wants to criticise. It has no alternate policies. We are a government which is doing things in that area.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, we are investing very heavily in affordable housing for Territorians. As I mentioned before, I met with the principals of the affordable rental housing company we have established in Darwin. They are looking at, of course, the project at Wirrina which is nearing completion. That will be complete within a very short time. Of the around 100 units, approximately half of those are for social and affordable housing. The rents will be at least 20% below market rent.
They are also examining quite a large block - well, more than examining; they will be moving forward on a large block at Driver and further developments there.
There has been considerable investment into social housing across the Territory by the Commonwealth government, particularly within Alice Springs. I commend the federal government; it invested approximately $45m to $50m for over 200 dwellings. That has been a welcome addition. We have also undertaken to have 150 dwellings over three years with $50m as part of our housing budget.
We recognise it is difficult within the Territory. We recognise the pressures on families with rent and purchasing houses, but we are opening up land at record rates in Palmerston. I urge members opposite to take a drive around Johnston, Bellamack and beyond. This is a government that is investing in infrastructure.
The disappointing thing for me is that the opposition members are quick to criticise, but they are slow on solutions. As I mentioned before, their manifesto has a skimming reference to housing, but no detail or costings. To get housing, you have to put headworks in; you have to invest. Until the opposition has a credible policy for housing and costings against what they want to do, it is just fairly empty. It is very thin on details. There was much polemic and political ideology in there, as you would expect in a manifesto ...
Members interjecting.
Dr BURNS: Oh, comrade?
Members interjecting.
Dr BURNS: Karl Marx from Port Darwin.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Dr BURNS: Madam Speaker, we are serious about housing. The opposition just wants to criticise. It has no alternate policies. We are a government which is doing things in that area.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016