Page 1874 - Week 09 - Thursday, 19 October 1989
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become more controversial because of the circumstances surrounding those houses in Macquarie. It is not acceptable, however, for the Government to delay taking action because of the worries that Mr Stefaniak and others may have about that policy. It is too important to wait with nothing happening.
The Minister's supplementary statement on youth housing earlier this week should have put to rest the reservations which had been expressed about that housing arrangement. Among other matters I will consider today I will respond to some of the concerns that have been expressed on housing generally. The Minister's policy is being carefully planned and it will fit in well with the initiatives of the Commonwealth Government in this area.
Debates on housing must consider the relationship between the ACT Government and the Commonwealth. When I read opposition comments on the ACT budget I wondered whether members fully understood the respective roles of the ACT and the Commonwealth in housing policies and programs, and therefore it is on that area that I wish to focus most of my comments in this debate.
All members of the Assembly will be aware that in her statement to the Assembly on the housing policy review the Minister announced that the ACT would become a full party to the Commonwealth-State housing agreement this year. This is a milestone in the ACT's history. It will be the first time that the Territory has been able to take its place as an equal partner with the States in the funding and other arrangements provided for in the agreement.
Through participation in this agreement the ACT will gain access to an increased level of grant funding. That funding from the Commonwealth in 1989-90 will increase by about $7m over grants provided for in 1988-89. In addition, the ACT will be required progressively to match the Commonwealth grants contributing to improved funding for housing in the ACT. The emphasis of the agreement is on direct funding into rental housing acquisition so as to address the housing requirements of low-income families and individuals in most need.
I believe that these are the right priorities. I understand also that the new agreement recognises the needs of home purchasers. To ensure that the capacity of available funds to assist people into home ownership is maximised, the agreement requires a more efficient approach to the management of these funds. To this end, the value of home ownership funds will be required to be maintained in real terms. Additionally, the funds will need to be used to complement private sector mortgage funds so that more people can be assisted.
In the ACT, this will require not only the restructuring of the commissioner for housing loan scheme but also the development of additional home ownership schemes. I was
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