HomeBuilder Program

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (14:32): My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer outline to the chamber when the new federal government HomeBuilder scheme will commence in South Australia?

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (14:32): We would hope as soon as possible. It does require the signing of the national partnership agreement between the federal government and the state government—or state governments and territory governments collectively. In South Australia's case, we are moving as swiftly as we can to resolve some eligibility questions and compliance questions. As I may or may not have indicated to the parliament previously, we think we probably might have to introduce legislation to assist compliance activities in terms of who may or may not receive the $25,000 federal HomeBuilder grant.

We, the states and territories, are being asked to administer the scheme, although the funding for the grant is being provided by the commonwealth. The costs of administering the scheme will be the responsibility for the various state and territory governments if they accept the arrangements. We have indicated, from South Australia's viewpoint—and I only speak on behalf of South Australia—that, whilst we would like to see the federal government pay for the administration of the scheme, that doesn't appear to be the prospect, and we are not prepared to delay the delivery of the scheme through a lengthy argument about the costs of administering the scheme. We are interested in seeing the scheme up and operational as soon as possible so that those grants can start flowing and provide stimulus activity in the housing and construction industry in South Australia.

There are some complicated issues in relation to eligibility which have to be resolved. I welcome the fact that the commonwealth government has indicated some willingness to amend some provisions of the national partnership agreement. If I can just highlight one broad area of concern that the housing and construction sector has highlighted, it has been the requirement in the eligibility conditions that construction should commence within three months of the contract being signed.

There are understandable concerns being raised about planning issues and finance issues as to whether or not those issues can be resolved by planning bodies, but more particularly banks and financial institutions, in terms of ensuring that those people who do want to build the new home can actually meet that three-month criterion. We welcome the fact that the commonwealth has indicated some willingness, because we made strong representations to the commonwealth, as did some of the stakeholder groups. We believe there is some flexibility now in terms of that particular three-month provision, which we from South Australia welcome.

There are a number of other complexities to the proposed national partnership agreement. We are hopeful of resolving that as quickly as we can so that we can commence the implementation of the scheme. It may well require the forbearance of the parliament, given that we have two sitting weeks to go, as we may well be asking the parliament to support some legislation that allows the state to not administer the scheme but enforce compliance, that is, if somebody attempts to rort the scheme and get $25,000 unlawfully, there is some legal obligation to be able to retrieve the money, which currently does not exist. It also, I understand, may well offer the appeal mechanism, which exists in relation to the First Home Owner Grant, with an appeal to SACAT, so we are contemplating looking at that as an option as well.

I thought I might foreshadow to members of the Legislative Council that, if they share the willingness to get this $25,000 out as quickly as possible, we may well ask their patience in terms of being prepared to consider, should the cabinet and joint party room support in short order, the need for some legislation in the last two sitting weeks of this parliamentary session.