Page 1539 - Week 06 - Thursday, 7 June 2007

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that CHC pay duty at a concessional rate on any transfers or grants of leases. This bill introduces new provisions in the Duties Act, the Rates Act and the Land Tax Act that provides for certain organisations such as CHC, while remaining liable for rates on their properties, to be exempt from the payment of duty and land tax, consistent with Housing ACT. The government will continue to work with CHC to enable it to maintain its position as a key provider of housing in the ACT for those on low incomes. These legislative changes will help to transform community housing and provide greater assistance for those in need in the ACT to access affordable rental properties.

This bill also addresses the taxation treatment for people choosing to defer payment for land for affordable house and land packages until a certificate of occupancy is issued. This is the first step in the introduction of this new affordable house and land product. This means that home buyers will only have to pay for the deposit on the land and can defer full payment for the land and duty until their home is ready to occupy. This will further alleviate the up-front financial pressure facing households when purchasing a home. This bill will ensure that households do not have to pay off a mortgage and pay for rental accommodation as they wait to move into their new home.

Access to affordable and appropriate housing is a basic need for everyone within our community, and the government remains committed to addressing that need as one of its main priorities. This bill is a practical step in addressing the issue of affordable housing in the ACT. I commend the bill to the Assembly.

Debate (on motion by Mr Mulcahy) adjourned to the next sitting.

Water use—proposed select committee

DR FOSKEY (Molonglo) (10.52): I move:

That this Assembly:

(1) resolves to establish a Select Committee on Water Use to consider the best options for ACT Government investment in maintaining a sustainable water supply in the ACT with particular reference to:

(a) likely impacts of climate change on water resources available to the ACT;

(b) the extent to which demand reduction strategies outlined in Think Water, Act Water have been implemented;

(d) the role of Canberra as Australia’s national capital and provider of water to the largest population in the Murray-Darling Basin;

(e) the relative merits of staged water restrictions as compared to a permanent water conservation strategy;

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