Page 1580 - Week 05 - Thursday, 8 May 2008
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That this bill be agreed to in principle.
On behalf of Mr Hargreaves, the Minister for Housing, I present the Housing Assistance Amendment Bill 2008 to establish a regulatory framework for not-for-profit housing providers. This bill introduces a regulatory framework for not-for-profit housing providers in the ACT through amendment of the Housing Assistance Act 2007.
The powers will be vested in the Commissioner for Social Housing as established in the act.
Members will be aware that the revised Housing Assistance Act commenced on 10 November 2007. The new act recognised the government’s expanded response to housing need.
It amended the Commissioner for Housing’s title to “Commissioner for Social Housing” to reflect the commissioner’s responsibilities across both the community and public housing sectors.
This government’s legislation is an important part of the affordable housing action plan 2007, which was released on 12 April last year. That plan supports the expansion of social housing through Community Housing Canberra, CHC, and this legislation ensures the protection of the community’s interest in the housing transferred by government to CHC.
CHC is required to increase the supply of affordable housing for purchase by 470 dwellings within five years—and 1,000 dwellings within 10 years. It is also required to increase the supply of affordable rental housing by 250 dwellings within five years and 500 dwellings within 10 years.
To support this, Community Housing Canberra has received generous public assistance, including:
• the transfer of title for 135 public housing dwellings valued at $40 million;
• a $3 million capital injection;
• access to a $50 million revolving finance facility at government interest rates; and
• direct grants of land; transitional payments of up to $250,000 per annum for three years and land tax and duty concessions.
CHC has a significant task ahead and the arm’s-length nature of this regulatory framework is important in supporting CHC to achieve its goals.
The government’s support for CHC is consistent with the emerging role nationally of not-for-profit affordable housing providers in expanding the supply of social housing.
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