HOUSING CONSTRUCTION GRANT

Mrs VLAHOS (Taylor) (15:15): My question is to the Treasurer. What has the industry reaction been to yesterday's announcement of the new housing construction grant?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Treasurer, Minister for Workers Rehabilitation, Minister for Defence Industries, Minister for Veterans' Affairs) (15:15): I would like to thank the member for Taylor. She would have many new homebuyers in her electorate, people who would be beneficiaries of this new grant. I am pleased to tell the house that the real estate industry, the housing construction industry and business groups have overwhelmingly backed the government's decision to stimulate the property sector. Nathan Paine, the executive director of the Property Council, last night said, and I quote:

This is a very tough time for everybody out there, including the government and I've got to congratulate the government because this goes above and beyond what was even talked about at the construction industry roundtable which was convened by the Premier several weeks back. You know, this is a big step forward.

Business SA chief executive officer Nigel McBride said this was good for the city, it's good for a more vibrant Adelaide, and it is obviously good for the industry at a critical time. These are views echoed by the Housing Industry Association's Robert Harding, who said that this will add confidence to the market, while Greg Troughton from the Real Estate Institute of South Australia was another to welcome the government's moves.

In correspondence to my office, Mark Devine from Devine Homes called it a very timely and appropriate initiative to stimulate the state housing industry, and yesterday had already received a number of clients inquiring about it. Terry Walsh from the Urban Development Institute of Australia said in a press release yesterday that this will change the attitude of house buyers and create much-needed activity in the housing market.

So, who did not overwhelmingly support the move? It will come as no surprise to anyone that it was none other than the great member for Davenport. Bereft of any ideas, the contribution we got from the member for Davenport was on radio this morning criticising the government for supporting jobs and industry and claiming that it was not sustainable. While this government is doing what it can do to protect the 66,000 jobs in the state's construction industry, those opposite are only worried about one job—one job—and that job is the Leader of the Opposition's.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The ministers on my right will behave. The member for Stuart.