[Greens-Media] Sylvia Hale: NSW can learn from the ACT on housing plan

[Christopher Holley]

13 April 2007  
For immediate use      
            
NSW can learn from the ACT 
 
NSW Greens MLC Sylvia Hale welcomed the ACT's Affordable Housing Action Plan released yesterday, as a positive government initiative on housing.
 
"Unlike the NSW Government, the ACT government seems to actually be doing something to improve housing affordability,” said Ms Hale.
 
“Under the plan, the Government will use the ACT's unique leasehold system to rent land to new home builders, rather than sell it. 
 
“Such a system could work in NSW on government-owned land.
 
“Another commendable aspect of the plan is the offering of smaller houses on smaller blocks of land, rather than the McMansion-style housing that has mushroomed in Sydney. Sydney is sadly lacking in housing that meets the needs of single and elderly people.
 
“The ACT government is also proposing that first home buyers will be able to defer stamp duty payment for 5 years.
 
“I understand the ACT Government is also investigating a range of shared equity schemes to assist people into home ownership but, of course, it’s essential to look carefully at how such schemes are structured. They can have pitfalls.
 
“The ACT plan does unfortunately fall short of requiring the provision in large developments of a percentage of housing that would remain affordable in perpetuity.
 
“Greens ACT MP Deb Foskey has attempted to introduce legislation along these lines in the ACT, and I will be doing the same in NSW,” Ms Hale said. 
 
“Nevertheless, it’s refreshing that the Stanhope Government is actually doing something. For two years Premier Iemma has talked about the problem of housing unaffordability, but has done nothing concrete.
 
“Meanwhile people are leaving Sydney and NSW for other States and Territories. It’s just too hard to find affordable housing here.
 
“We have a new Housing Minister, Matt Brown. Unlike previous housing ministers Tripodi and Burton, he has the opportunity to really make a mark on his portfolio by increasing the supply of affordable housing in NSW,” Ms Hale concluded.
 
 
 
Contact: Hazel Blunden on 02 9230 3030 or 0437 092 154
Chris Holley
Policy and Media Officer
Office of Sylvia Hale MLC
Parliament House 
Macquarie St,
Sydney NSW 2000
Ph: 02 9230 3030   Mob: 0437 779 546
Fax: 02 9230 2159
E-mail: Christopher.Holley at parliament.nsw.gov.au
Web:www.sylviahale.org.au