MEDIA RELEASE | Government action on rental housing needed
Thursday, January 15th, 2009ACT Greens MLA for Brindabella Amanda Bresnan has called for the Government to act now on boosting the supply of affordable rental housing in the ACT.
“The rental crisis looks worse in Canberra this year, despite the economic slump, and ACT Government action is needed,” Ms Bresnan said today.
“The Parliamentary Agreement the ACT Government made with the Greens includes a boost to public housing, and increased support for affordable private rental housing.”
“I am aware that the COAG meeting last year included some commonwealth funds for social housing. The ACT Government should match this federal money with its own and invest in some new public housing stock in the proposed February stimulus package.”
“At a time of housing industry slow down, more public investment makes sense.”
“The ACT Government also agreed to look at land tax concessions on homes that are rented to low income households.”
The ACT Greens-ALP Parliamentary Agreement requires the Government to develop such a scheme by 2010.
“The economic down turn and the threatened flight of housing investors suggests that this option be fast tracked in time for the 2009/10 budget.”
“Finally, the ACT Government could also consider investing some of its superannuation funds into public or community housing too. After all, chances are we would get a better return on bricks and mortar than we would in investing in equities,” Ms Bresnan said.