[Greens-Media] Greening-up first home owners grants to boost jobs and power Australia's economic future

[Norton, Tim (Sen R. Siewert)]

Greening-up first home owners grants to boost jobs and power Australia's
economic future
Thursday 16th October 2008
 
The Australian Greens today called for an environmental focus on housing
in the Prime Minister's $10.4 billion package, ensuring more jobs and
local economic stimulus.
 
"This is the perfect opportunity for the Rudd Government to seize the
moment and set Australia's housing sector on the path towards a
sustainable, renewable future," said Australian Greens Senator Scott
Ludlam.
 
"As it is currently constructed, the increase in the first home owners
grant is poor policy that will drive up house prices and do little to
promote overall housing affordability."
 
The Greens, whilst support the Government's economic stimulus package,
are proposing:
 
* to ensure that any first home owners grants available for new houses
are only for houses built with a high energy efficiency rating (eg solar
hot water, insulation);
* a nationwide energy efficiency retrofit scheme to ease energy bills
and boost employment; 
* to prioritise genuine housing affordability measures including
concessions for non-profit community housing organisations to provide
affordable rental accommodation.
 
The one dimensional focus on the first homeowners grant has been
criticised as inflationary and poorly targeted. 
 
"Putting more money up front, encouraging people to buy
energy-inefficient homes out onto the urban fringes far from services,
public transport and employment centres is a bad social economical and
environmental outcome," said Senator Ludlam.
 
"The Greens scheme would produce better social outcomes; be a far
greater boost to jobs; and help power Australia's green economic
future," he concluded.

For more information or media enquiries please call Tim Norton on 0418
401 180
senator.ludlam at aph.gov.au  |  www.scottludlam.org.au  |
www.greensmps.org.au