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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-09-12 Daily Xml
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Bills

Statutes Amendment (Budget Measures) Bill

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 15 June 2023.)

Ms CLANCY (Elder) (11:29): I rise today in support of the Statutes Amendment (Budget Measures) Bill 2023, which seeks to amend all legislation relating to any budget measures in our 2023-24 state budget, a budget I am proud of, a budget that is focused on housing, health and cost-of-living relief. We know so many people in our community are struggling with the rising cost of living, a rise that is not being matched by an equal rise in wages. That is why this budget includes a number of measures to assist people with these rising costs.

There is $44 million over five years to increase existing concessions in line with higher inflation. There is $5 million over four years in additional support for food relief organisations, such as Foodbank, who have their headquarters just over the train line from my electorate of Elder in the electorate of Badcoe. Over 420,000 South Australian households are eligible to receive a rebate of up to $500 on this financial year's electricity bills, and approximately 86,000 small businesses are eligible to receive a rebate of up to $650 off their electricity bills.

Families will benefit from $18.5 million in cost-of-living measures, with $100 discounts to 2024 public school materials and service charges and more than a million additional meals through the school breakfast program. This is the third school year that the $100 materials and service charge discount has been applied, bringing the total investment to $36 million over three years.

The school breakfast program will receive a $6.5 million boost, which is the largest investment of its kind in the state's history. It will see more than 1.4 million meals provided to South Australian children through breakfast programs at schools across the state over the next four years. I was really pleased to be at part of this announcement at the excellent school in my community Clovelly Park Primary School alongside principal Terena Pope, the Premier, the Treasurer and the Minister for Education.

Also in this budget is $32.1 million over four years to increase carer payments from July this year to foster and kinship carers. This includes an extra $50 per fortnight for general foster and kinship carers for each child or young person in their care under the age of 16 years as well as a 4.8 per cent boost to all carer payments to assist with growing cost-of-living pressures. We know family-based care is the preferred placement option for children and young people in care, so we need to do what we can to help these placements continue.

The increase in carer payments will assist carers with the day-to-day costs of caring for a child or young person, which all the parents and caregivers in here know can really add up. Increasing carer payments to better reflect the true cost of caring was a recommendation in Dr Fiona Arney's report of the Independent Inquiry into Foster and Kinship Care released late last year. I know it will help foster and kinship carers, who often reduce their working hours to enable them to care for vulnerable children.

While in the child protection space, I want to highlight another part of the budget, which I know did not get much airtime but which I am really proud of, that is, the Strong Start program. We have committed $6.1 million for family support services for at-risk first-time parents as early as possible, including connecting those facing parenting challenges with critical services. This sort of early intervention work is so important if we are to have any chance of reducing the number of children entering care. It is the right thing to do for these children, their families and our communities. It is even better for our state's financial position in the short and long term, so no matter which way you look at it, this work is incredibly important and beneficial.

The four pieces of legislation proposed for amendment in this bill are the Emergency Services Funding Act 1998, the First Home and Housing Construction Grants Act 2000, the Land Tax Act 1936 and the Stamp Duties Act 1923—100 years ago. I would like to thank our Treasurer, his team and everyone at the Department of Treasury and Finance who has helped bring to this place a state budget that, as I have outlined, includes the largest cost-of-living relief package in South Australia's history.

As a key priority of this budget, the Malinauskas Labor government is committed to delivering affordable housing for South Australians at a time when the dream of owning your home feels even harder to reach. Almost one-third of the residents in my electorate of Elder are renters, a number which jumps to as high as two-thirds in some areas. Weekly rent varies with a majority of residents, according to Census data in 2021, paying between $200 and $500 per week on their rent.

Given the impact the Reserve Bank of Australia's consistent interest rate rises and corporate profit-driven inflation has had on the cost of living since then, it would be safe to assume that right across the country, including in my community, more Australians are renting, and they are paying much more for it.

We understand the real drivers behind the increasing cost of living and the proactive and positive role government can play in relieving this stress for South Australians. That is why the 2023-24 state budget delivers major long-term investments in health, housing, and reducing the impact of cost of living. As part of this state budget, the bill before us today seeks to amend the Stamp Duties Act 1923 to provide stamp duty relief for eligible first-home buyers. Inserted sections 71DD and 71DE explain how relief will be applied from stamp duty in respect of certain purchases of new homes and land.

Stamp duty will be abolished for eligible first-home buyers who are buying a new home valued at up to $650,000, with relief progressively phased out for properties valued at up to $700,000. For the purchase of vacant land on which a new home will be built, stamp duty will be abolished on land valued at $400,000, with relief phased out for land valued at up to $450,000.

To be eligible for this stamp duty relief, the new home must be occupied as the principal place of residence, similar to existing requirements for the First Home Owner Grant, under the First Home and Housing Construction Grants Act 2000. It is estimated that this relief will save up to almost $30,000 for as many as 3,800 first-home buyers in South Australia each year. Part 3 of this bill seeks to amend section 7 of the First Home and Housing Construction Grants Act 2000, increasing the property value cap for eligibility for the $15,000 First Home Owner Grant from $575,000 to $650,000.

I recently invited the Premier and Treasurer to meet with Vanessa, Tim and baby Fletcher, who are currently living with Tim's parents in my electorate in St Mary's while they are saving for their first home. In support of Vanessa and Tim, and families just like theirs right across South Australia, our stamp duty relief, when combined with changes to the First Home Owner Grant, provide eligible first-home buyers total relief of up to almost $45,000 on the purchase of a new home.

But that is not all. The Malinauskas Labor government has also announced, in collaboration with HomeStart, a new lending product to allow eligible borrowers to build a new home with a deposit as low as 2 per cent. These initiatives, supported by the passage of this budget measures bill, provide immediate and substantial relief to South Australians pursuing the dream of owning their own home.

In addition to these measures to support South Australians purchasing their first home faster, we are also supporting tenants through residential tenancies legislation reform to make rental bonds more affordable, banning the practice of rent bidding, and protecting tenants' rights and information. Our plan for a better housing future includes building an additional 564 public homes, and stopping the planned sale by those opposite of 580 others.

It includes preparing around 700 additional affordable homes at Prospect, Bowden and Playford to be delivered under the National Housing Accord. It includes developing the former Adelaide bus station site on Franklin Street to deliver more than 130 social and affordable apartments. Our plan also includes delivering new housing developments for key workers in regional South Australia, and the single largest release of residential land in our state's history, delivering at least another 23,700 more homes in South Australia.

The bill before us today, in addition to all the relief I have just outlined, also includes further provisions to increase the supply of housing in our state. Part 4 of this bill inserts a new section, section 7A, into the Land Tax Act 1936 to introduce a 50 per cent land tax discount for eligible new build-to-rent properties. This discount reduces the land value of the parcel of land being used as an eligible build-to-rent property by 50 per cent until the 2039-40 land tax year.

The criteria for an eligible build-to-rent property include that a minimum lease term of at least three years must be offered to tenants to support more secure tenure arrangements. Regulations could outline further requirements to be deemed an eligible build-to-rent property, including but not limited to supporting the development of new affordable housing in build-to-rent properties and the minimum number of build-to-rent dwellings or units within a property. Build-to-rent projects where construction commences from July this year will be able to apply for this relief.

By supporting the uptake of investment in residential rental housing, we can further increase the supply of housing to create even more opportunities for renters. There is a lot to do, and I am proud to be part of a government that is doing it. I commend the bill to the house.

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (11:40): I rise to make a contribution to the Statutes Amendment (Budget Measures) Bill, and I wish to indicate that I am not the lead speaker. The one thing I am very interested in is the amendment in regard to the Emergency Services Funding Act 1998 and the definition of 'emergency service'. It is about deleting the section that is:

(v) a body or organisation that is a member of Volunteer Marine Rescue S.A. Incorporated—

and substituting it with—

(v) a body or organisation accredited as a Volunteer Marine Rescue organisation by the State Marine Rescue Committee…

I certainly think this is quite relevant in the fact that we certainly need all the assistance we can with our emergency services. It is great to see some volunteer organisations get on board alongside our Metropolitan Fire Service, our Country Fire Service, our State Emergency Service, our surf lifesavers and others who do so much to protect life and property around our state and who also do work interstate and overseas when called upon.

I want to talk about a group at Milang that wrote to me. They formed the Milang Marine Search and Rescue Squadron. Obviously, Milang is on the banks of Lake Alexandrina. It has been a great pleasure to look after Milang for most of my career, but with the redistribution it is being well looked after by the member for Finniss. I want to go through what that group wrote to me, which I put forward to the minister, and I quote:

Dear Adrian,

My name is Jordan McAnaney, I am the captain of the search and rescue vessel Freemason as part of the recently formed Milang Marine Search and Rescue Squadron, located at Milang on the banks of Lake Alexandrina. The Squadron consists of local volunteers all of which live near and share a passion for the lower lakes. Plus, a huge amount of community following and support. The Squadron was formed after a gracious donation from Masonic Charities which gave us the opportunity to purchase one of the most capable boats on the lower lakes, equipped with some of the most advanced, state-of-the-art rescue technology, along with a shed in which to store it.

Private funding—

and I stress all private funding—

and many hours of skilled volunteer labour and effort has got us to our current position, but we are now seeking some assistance with funding to continue this ever-important service. Our Squadron has no fixed income and to date we have relied on fundraising along with financial help from the local yacht club in order to keep fuel in the boat.

Volunteers have been trying their best to raise money by cutting firewood, raffles and partnering with local wineries to sell their produce just so that we can keep our volunteer service running and our 'boat afloat'.

To date, we have responded to over 20 requests for assistance along with being 'on-station' for on water events at Milang, Clayton Bay, Goolwa and Meningie. Our training sessions have our volunteers covering almost every corner of Lake Alexandrina and Lake Albert. Lake Alexandrina alone covers 64,900 Ha yet we are the only rescue boat on the entire lake. The members of the Squadron, including myself are passionate about Lake Alexandrina and every member has spent ample time on, and in the lower lakes all of which are no stranger to her unforgiving nature. I am currently unaware of the total lives lost within the lower lakes, but should you speak with older generations that have long inhabited the banks of these lakes you would be told there should have been a rescue boat on Lake Alexandrina years ago, many lives would have been saved. With the last life lost recently in the summer of 2020/21.

'Lake Alexandrina is the finest sheet of fresh water I ever saw. Indeed, so formidable did it look, with a stiff wind blowing up quite a sufficient swell to make one seasick' (Edward Wilson, 1850). It has been well documented that the lake is a truly formidable body of water and yet until now there has been no rescue boat based on its shores.

I am writing to ask for your help for our charity in hope you can offer as much support as our service deserves. Our goal is to raise enough money to install toilets and showers within our facility so that our volunteers can be properly catered for. Having amenities would also mean we can hire our facility out to the community and host fundraising events for ourselves to generate some income. There are future possibilities for the Squadron to hire out our facility to the community, along with school camps etc as a place for water activities with an obvious emphasis on safety. Yet, we do not have a toilet facility and therefore are in no position to do so.

As Captain of the vessel, I couldn't be prouder of the crew we have put together so far, and I have absolute confidence in each member of the Squadron on the water. But the things that concern me are the lack of funding for adequate First Aid training along with furthering their skills and accreditations in marine operations/radio communications needed in an emergency and that when the day comes that we are not quite quick enough that my crew will have access to any support they need courtesy of the Squadron they volunteer their time to. To add to this there is also the maintenance and running costs of our vessel. I, along with many others, believe that this service is essential to the safety of our lower lakes and that our community has an outstanding capacity to save lives and ensure the safety of our fellows on the lake, what we need is funding just as any emergency service needs from the government.

I would like to extend an invitation for you to visit our facility to meet with myself and our Squadron Commodore, Master 5 Chris Francis, along with current volunteers to show you the work that we have put in so far in hope you help us progress from the point we have already reached. Please make contact via return email or contact me on [the phone number], I look forward to hearing from you and hope we can have a chance to discuss our situation further.

Kind regards,

Jordan McAnaney

It was with much pleasure that one day I ventured down to Milang and joined the member for Finniss on this mighty rescue vehicle donated by the masonic society, and I acknowledge the Freemasons for their generous donation. I believe it would have been in the capacity of somewhere around $300,000—a very, very generous donation and certainly a quite needed vessel and community emergency centre being established there in Milang. Yes, the lakes can look quite safe, but they are huge expanses of water, especially Lake Alexandrina with 64,900 hectares on its own. Too many times we have seen lives lost or put at risk because people, unknowingly, think it is just a gentle piece of water and, next thing, the weather blows up and all hell breaks loose.

We went out for a cruise on the boat, and I was very privileged to utilise my boat licence. We headed towards Raukkan—we did not go all the way across to the other side—and then came back, and it is a very capable vessel that can get up quite a speed going across the water. We had a good overview of how the boat runs, and its capabilities are well and truly up to conducting rescue activities on those lakes.

I wrote to Minister Szakacs, the Minister for Emergency Services, about what options there would be to get funding along the way. To this crew's credit, they are just asking for what they need: they want their facilities upgraded at Milang, but obviously they also want the running costs covered for the boat. They are quite happy, as a community of volunteers, to put volunteers on the boat and conduct operations when they need to. It was pleasing to get a response from the minister, and I will just go through it:

Dear Mr Pederick,

Thank you for writing to me on behalf of the Milang Marine Search and Rescue Squadron Inc (MMSRS) regarding funding assistance to continue marine operational services. After receiving your correspondence I asked the South Australian State Emergency Service…for advice in relation to this matter.

I am advised that MMSRS was established as a community group and is not part of the emergency services framework. Therefore, there is no facility to support the application. Notwithstanding this, the SES has informed me that there may be an opportunity for the MMSRS to become associated with the Victor Harbor Goolwa Sea Rescue Squadron, which is an established marine rescue association. Alternatively, it may consider registering as a satellite of an existing SES unit.

The minister trusted that this information was of assistance and wished them all the best in their endeavours.

I acknowledge that and thank the minister for his response. I know the member for Finniss is working with the squadron to follow up on their next steps, and I will certainly be following up on that progress as well. I would like to think that alongside that advice, and the changes in the budget measures bill, we can continue that fine level of service in the Lower Lakes region.

It is to be commended, as I said, that the Freemasons put up hundreds of thousands of dollars and that the volunteers are well and truly able to chip in. They been supplying not only their valuable time but also their own resources to make sure this vessel can assist those communities, whether it be right next to Milang or at Goolwa or Clayton or across to Meningie on Lake Albert.

This shows how important our emergency services are right across the board, whether it is staff or volunteers in any of the organisations. Obviously the Metropolitan Fire Service have people working for them full time, but they have also retained people working for them, and sometimes brigades are essentially retained brigades; some have a mix. Murray Bridge is a retained brigade and Mount Gambier has a mix. There are various versions around the state and, obviously, full-time brigades in urban areas. These people put their lives on the line, and not just for people—in more recent days, there have been a couple of rescues of pets, which is commendable. Great work is being done, and also the Country Fire Service do great work right across the state with their 13,000 volunteers. I note the member for Waite was a member.

Ms Hutchesson: Is.

Mr PEDERICK: Is—I think I said 'is', didn't I? I hope I did. Anyway, she is a member of the CFS, as I am, and we are both very proud to be part of that organisation. The Country Fire Service do great work, and when you have big events, as I have seen multiple times—whether we as a group from our area can back up others or when there is a big event like the Yumali-Netherton fire and strike teams emerge from all over the state, whether from closer to the city and coming down, or South-East brigades coming up to assist—those many trucks and many volunteers coming on board to assist their communities are such a welcome sight. They do so much good work.

As I have said before in this place, our State Emergency Service, and their getting close to 1,800 volunteers, and all these groups are to be commended for the work they have done in looking after River Murray communities—from the volunteer efforts and the people on staff, right through to the leadership of these groups. These are people who just want to do their bit for the community, wherever it is.

The SES were activated the other day with seven breaches, breaches of levees and overtopping down in the River Murray. I commend them for being on call, and I also commend the locals who pulled in very quickly alongside some contractors to try to stop breaches and some of the problems with the overtopping water on those levees. It just shows that we need to be more vigilant in how those levees are managed. I commend those emergency services people who give up their valuable time.

We have recently seen firefighters go to Canada, as we have had Canadians come here, and we have had Americans come here and we have been to America as well with some of our firefighting teams. It is to be commended that we can not only help our interstate friends but help our international friends as well.

In regard to surf lifesaving, there are volunteers who work to keep people safe when they are in the water. We have a lot of visitors to this great state and this great country and sometimes they do not realise the trouble you can have in the water and the undertows that can come into play.

I can remember one day, a bit over a decade ago now, when my boys were a bit younger and we were off Goolwa Beach. The next thing, they were both coming past me with the tow threatening to take them out and I just caught one each side and walked them in. It is a good thing I have fair anchorage. You just have to be careful because you cannot see the treachery that is under the water. For surf lifesavers who come up through from the nippers—and many of them do lifetime service—making sure that people can swim and be safe in the water, it is truly commendable.

Part of the budget is to make sure that all our emergency services are appropriately funded and that bases like Strathalbyn, which we initiated when in government but was opened more recently, are up to speed. That is a great SES station there. When we were in government, we launched the new vessel at Murray Bridge (I will probably get the name wrong), the Mulyawonk. These things go across governments of every colour to make sure that we do have the best facilities and the best equipment we can get, and there is always a push to get more.

I note that over time nine airframes of various sizes are coming into our firefighting capacity. I certainly believe that in big events, the more planes or helicopters we can get in the air in a hurry the better, noting that it is the volunteers on the ground who finally mop it up, but the strike force you can get from aerial bombing can really take the heat out of the situation. Those are my remarks for the budget measures bill. We always need to fill in the gaps, as I indicated with the Milang rescue squadron, and I wish them all the best in their endeavours.

Ms HUTCHESSON (Waite) (12:00): I rise in support of the Statutes Amendment (Budget Measures) Bill. Our government's 2023-24 budget is a responsible letter to our children and grandchildren. It is an email to millennials, generation Z and generation alpha and its message is that we are listening to what they need.

They need access to affordable housing both to buy and to rent, addressing the housing crisis that we are facing in a way that is fair, that encourages investment but that does not push the dream of owning their own home out of reality. Our plan for a better housing future is about making those dreams come true. The budget contains measures that not only provide relief from stamp duty for first-home owners but is also realistic about what it costs to build those houses.

We know that we have seen house prices skyrocket, and we are making the necessary adjustments to ensure the opportunity to access our initiatives applies to more people in more areas because we need our growth and our young people to be integrated into all our communities. It is their youth and enthusiasm that drive excitement and opportunity.

Specifically, some of the exciting initiatives of the 2023-24 budget seek to deliver on in regard to housing are abolishing stamp duty for eligible first-home buyers purchasing or building a new home; relief for those buying a new home valued at up to $650,000, with relief progressively phased out for properties valued at up to $700,000; or purchasing vacant land valued at up to $400,000 to build a new home, with relief phasing out for land valued up to $450,000.

We are not only retaining the First Home Owner Grant of $15,000 but we are also increasing the First Home Owner Grant property value cap for eligible new homebuyers for properties valued at between $575,000 and $650,000 so they can now also access the $15,000 First Home Owner Grant to assist with the purchase of their new home and the new HomeStart loan for first-home buyers building a home with as little as 2 per cent deposit.

The Statutes Amendment (Budget Measures) Bill contains amendments to relevant legislation to implement these measures. This bill introduces a 50 per cent land tax for discount for eligible new build-to-rent properties. The discount reduces the land value of the parcel of land being used as an eligible build-to-rent property by 50 per cent until the 2039-40 land tax here. The criteria for an eligible build-to-rent property include that a minimum lease term of at least three years must be offered to tenants to support more secure tenure arrangements.

Further requirements to be deemed an eligible build-to-rent property can be outlined in regulations, including but not limited to the minimum number of build-to-rent dwellings or units within a property and requirements to support the development of new affordable housing in build-to-rent properties. Build-to-rent projects where construction commences from 1 July 2023 will be able to apply for relief.

This reduction in land tax is designed to encourage investors to build affordable housing for our renters, those not ready to buy and those who do not want to buy. It is designed to increase supply to provide more opportunity for renters. We know that there is a shortage of rental properties and we are introducing these measures and the necessary amendments to legislation to create homes.

South Australia is bucking the trend nationally for new home sales. Let's be more precise: we are smashing the other states. In July, South Australia's new home sales jumped 35½ per cent. All other states were in the negative. Our measures and commitment to homebuyers are showing their merit. Back to our first-home owners, we are also providing stamp duty relief for those who enter into a contract to purchase a new home or vacant land to build a new home on or after 15 June 2023. In order to do this, we are amending the Stamp Duties Act through this bill.

Through these amendments, no stamp duty will be payable on the purchase of an eligible new home valued up to $650,000, with relief progressively phasing out for properties valued up to $700,000. For the purchase of vacant land on which a new home will be built, no stamp duty will be payable for vacant land up to $400,000, with relief phasing out for land valued at up to $450,000. There are some Ts and Cs to be eligible for relief. The new home must be occupied as the principal place of residence, similar to the existing requirements for the First Home Owner Grant under the First Home and Housing Construction Grants Act 2000.

This amendment will see stamp duty relief of up to $29,580 being available for eligible applicants. That is a huge help when it is difficult to be renting and saving. We want more young people to be able to buy their first home, to chase the dream of home ownership, to create memories, to lay down their roots and to grow their families. The amendment we are seeking here today will pave the driveways of our future generations so that they, too, can realise the opportunities that come from having a place to live that they can call their own.

Aside from these amendments, we are also seeking to make some changes to the Emergency Services Funding Act. The emergency services levy is incredibly important. It allows community members to contribute to emergency services to ensure that they are there when we need them. The money collected by the emergency services levy is placed into a dedicated fund, the Community Emergency Services Fund, for the exclusive use of the emergency services, including the Metropolitan Fire Service, Country Fire Service, State Emergency Service, Volunteer Marine Rescue, SA Fire and Emergency Services Commission, the rescue components of Surf Life Saving South Australia, South Australian Police Rescue and the State Rescue Helicopter Service.

We need a strong emergency service. We live in a country where we are constantly battling the elements, whether it is fire, flood or storms. We can get into trouble, and it is the good people of the emergency service who, without thinking, spring into action. They do not complain about having to pay the ESL themselves when they are the emergency assistance provider. As such, we need to ensure that everyone contributes to keep the service strong and well resourced.

The bill makes various amendments to the Emergency Services Funding Act 1998. These seek to allow the Commissioner of State Taxation to collect the emergency services levy from either a landowner or a private shack lessee. Currently, lessees of private shack sites are not specifically provided for as an owner from which the ESL can be collected, and notices of emergency services levy assessments are issued to the lessors as the owners of the land. Owners of some privately leased shack site groups have requested that RevenueSA sends separate ESL notices to the lessees of the shack sites, as the responsibility of collecting the ESL from some lessees can be burdensome.

Following the changes, owners of the privately leased shack sites could request the Commissioner of State Taxation to issue individual ESL bills to lessees, relieving the owner of the administrative difficulties of appointing, collecting and paying the ESL for their shack group, ensuring the ESL is shared by everyone, because anyone could need the assistance of the emergency services at any time. Nothing is stopping community members from contributing further to our emergency services and, with forecasts of a concerning bushfire season ahead, I know that the local CFS brigades are always grateful to receive donations from their local communities.

I will take this opportunity to encourage my community to not delay in preparing for the upcoming fire season. Clearing gutters and low-lying scrub and grasses and having a bushfire plan are essential. Consider joining the CFS in whatever capacity you can: whether you are able to hold a hose or not, there is a role for you.

The final amendment being sought, to change the reference to 'Volunteer Marine Rescue S.A. Incorporated' to a 'volunteer Marine Rescue organisation accredited by the State Marine Rescue Committee', is to be more in line with the current marine rescue arrangements.

These amendments allow us to deliver on only a few of our budget measures, but they are important. I commend the bill to the house.

Ms SAVVAS (Newland) (12:08): I have been incredibly proud to already speak several times in this house about our budget, and it is of course a budget that has been incredibly well received in my community in the north-eastern suburbs. It is a fair and balanced budget in many ways, and it tackles cost-of-living pressures in a balanced way.

There are lots of different things in the budget that I am particularly proud of. We are investing in child protection, something that is incredibly close to my heart; we are investing in at-risk parents; we are investing in our school breakfast program, which is something that I have seen a huge increase in demand for in my electorate over the last few months; we are investing in significant cost-of-living relief measures; and of course there is the key piece of housing.

Unlike many other electorates—and I noted before that the member for Elder talked about the high proportion of renters in her electorate—we in my electorate in the north-east are very much a mortgage belt. There is a small degree of movement between houses, and there is little to no public housing and very limited infill compared with other communities.

We have always valued home ownership in the north-east. It has always been, and I hope will continue to be, a place where home ownership—what I call 'the Australian dream'—is actually achievable. It has been achievable for many generations in the north-east. I am so pleased that this budget will continue to broaden those opportunities even further, giving more people the opportunity to buy their homes in the north-eastern suburbs, at a reasonable price as well.

I spoke last sitting week about my own housing journey and about the great equaliser for me that it is to live in a home that I own. My mum was the first in our family ever to have purchased a home. I remember all too well just how it felt and, of course, the reaction and the emotions from not just mum but all those in my family when we moved into her first home—which was a transportable fibro-style house at Windsor Gardens—when I was six years old. That meant for the first time in my mum's entire life she was in a house she had the right to stay in. That was, I believe, 51 or 52 in terms of the houses she had lived in. It was her 51st or 52nd home when she was finally able to live in a home that she owned.

She, like many others, was very much trapped in a rent spiral, living in public housing, co-op housing and private rentals for her entire childhood and the majority of her early adult life, including as a single mum with two kids (me and my older brother). My mum went to something like 13 schools; it might actually be more than 13 now that I think about it. Again, that was a direct product of her housing situation, the housing inequality that she, her siblings and her mum (also a single mum) found themselves in.

When I talk about those 13 schools, it is not like they were close together. It is not like they had the opportunity to make friends or build connections. At one point she started at Wirreanda high school in the southern suburbs, and in that same year she moved over to Banksia Park International High School in my electorate of Newland. She was moving across the state on a regular basis as a kid because housing was so insecure and they did not have the ability to have adequate housing as a single-parent family with four children.

For me, housing is so important—so important. There is nothing that I value more than the ability to have your own home. There is nothing that I actually value more in my own life than coming home to a house that is mine. I know that so many in my family never have and never will, and so many across our state never have and never will have the opportunity to own their own home, to know that security and that safety, and to decorate a home and put artwork on the walls.

I do remember mum saying to me when we moved into our house when I was six that everybody would get to have one hook in their bedroom so they could put something on the walls. I remember just what a huge moment that was for her, what it meant to her and the rest of my family, to have the opportunity to put a piece of artwork on the walls. It is something that a lot of us in this place and a lot of people generally might take for granted just what that means to be a home owner and put something in a house that makes it your own.

Our government of course knows that housing is a priority—not just to find people somewhere to live but to give people the opportunity to have dignity, to have safety, security and, of course, to leave the rent cycle. It is very much a cycle. We know that if people are not able to purchase a home straight out of living at home with their parents, for example, they will often be trapped in those cycles of continuing to rent, particularly with increased rent prices at the moment. It makes it harder and harder to save up a deposit to purchase a first home.

That was the cycle that my mum found herself in, moving out of home, being a single mum, having two young children. She was trapped in that rent cycle and found it almost impossible to purchase a home of her own. We know that in order to address that and to ensure that those cycles do not continue, we need to be assisting individuals to buy their first home. That is, of course, a very key part of our budget.

We are increasing supply at the same time—not just increasing supply but increasing it by a record amount, with land supply of over 25,000 blocks. We are investing not just in construction, not just in new buildings, not just in homes, but in people. We are investing in people's futures and giving them the ability, as I mentioned, that many would not have had, or would not have been able to have, had they not been given the opportunity to enter the housing market for the first time.

These measures introduce a few different things. One of the things that it makes changes to is the Land Tax Act 1936. It introduces a 50 per cent land tax discount for eligible new build-to-rent properties. This discount reduces the land value of the parcel of land being used as an eligible build-to-rent property by 50 per cent until 2039-40. It also, of course, provides stamp duty relief for eligible first-home buyers who enter into a contract to purchase a new home or vacant land to build a new home. It also increases the value of the house to which it applies.

Previously I have mentioned in this house my own journey into home ownership and how I benefited from a first home builders grant some years ago to build my first home in the Adelaide Hills. I have talked about the difference in progress and the changes I saw in a small community when I could at one stage point to a spot in a field where my house would eventually be and then within a year was moving into what is now a thriving community.

Since I have left that area, a new shopping centre has been built nearby and the community continues to thrive. That is exactly what we are doing with increased land supply: we are giving people the opportunity not just to build a home but for new communities to be built. I very much saw that in my experience of building my first home.

Our budget also allows the continuation of the first home builders grant, in addition to the stamp duty revocation for those eligible builders, which is really important because the opportunity is even greater to be able to get into that housing market. I know for a fact that without a grant like that I never would have been able to purchase a home. I was in a situation where I was very much going to be trapped in the rent spiral, not able to necessarily live at home, not able to support myself entirely while we were looking for places to rent and not having family support to assist in the purchase of the property.

That grant made a huge difference to me and it also stimulated construction, stimulated the local economy, and has made sure that later in life I am now able to own a home all on my own that I did not build, not relying on the assistance of that subsidy. It has been a really big game changer in my life, very much an equaliser, and I think it is important to talk about home ownership as an equaliser and what it does for opportunities in people's lives.

I know for a fact that now being in the place where I do own my home, I have opportunities that many of my friends, particularly friends my age, in their late 20s, will not be able to have. It is something that is said too often, that most of my friends do not think they will ever be able to buy a home unless a relative somewhere passes away and is able to assist them with a deposit on a home. I think that is a really sad state of affairs, that people generally do not see it as an opportunity, even in South Australia.

I think this is going a long way not just to assist those first home builders but, of course, to increase the supply here in South Australia. We know that we are lacking in homes and we know that this will make a huge difference to those communities calling out for extra properties. I hear it in the north-eastern suburbs that there are people wanting to be able to live nearby or people who are moving out of their family homes and wanting to have places of their own and are unable to access those properties because there just have not been enough of them. So I am very much looking forward to the continuation of these measures and to see what happens.

We do have one of those areas in my local community that has been earmarked for further development in Golden Grove, in the electorate of King. I know that increased construction in our community will have a really good impact on the local economy and the local community. As I said, I am incredibly proud of the different measures in our budget, particularly those that relate to housing. I know that it is something we will continue to prioritise, something I am proud to prioritise and proud to speak to my friends about when talking about their journeys to enter the housing market and, of course, my own journey, which often seemed like it was not a possibility for me to enter that market.

I would very much like to commend the bill and particularly thank our Treasurer and our government for continuing to invest not only in home building but in young people like me who are looking to enter the housing market for the first time because I think that makes a huge difference and paves the way for really equitable futures for those who would otherwise not have had them or perhaps did not have the family support or capital behind them.

Mrs PEARCE (King) (12:19): I rise to speak in support of the Statutes Amendment (Budget Measures) Bill, which helps to implement some of the great measures that came about this year in our state budget, helping to deliver better outcomes and relief to thousands of people across our state.

I believe everyone in this place would agree that one of the most pressing challenges we currently have in this state is housing. Ensuring that we have enough supply, making sure that there is adequate protection for those in the rental market and getting more people to achieve their dream of buying their very first home are key desires that are certainly reflected by my local community.

I am so pleased that we are going to be taking active measures to address this, which is why we announced that we will support first-home buyers to achieve home ownership by abolishing stamp duty on new homes valued at up to $650,000, or for those purchasing vacant land up to $400,000 to build their very first home.

In conjunction with other initiatives to provide relief to first-home buyers, we plan to expand the eligibility of the First Home Owner Grant, providing a financial boost of $15,000 for those trying to enter the market, and starting from 1 July next year we are opening applications for first-home buyers to apply for a home loan through HomeStart with as little as a 2 per cent deposit. This will wipe out the often long and arduous journey of saving up a 20 per cent deposit, which can often be quite the endeavour and takes years to achieve just to get a foot in the door.

I am absolutely confident that this support will make a significant impact. We are talking about almost $30,000 in stamp duty relief in conjunction with a First Home Owner Grant payment of $15,000. First-home owners can expect to receive a total relief from the state government of up to almost $45,000. It is just one part of a comprehensive $474.7 million housing package, which includes the single largest land release in the state's history and the first substantial increase to public housing in a generation. It is no surprise that these housing policies to increase supply and affordability has earned South Australia the top spot on the national HIA Housing Scorecard released in July.

Talking to many people in my community over this winter break, it is one policy area that I have been hearing absolute resounding support for, whether it be young people who are looking to purchase their first home, parents of young adults who want the foundations of secure housing afforded to their children or grandparents who understand the long-term financial benefit home ownership can bring.

It is something that many people are excited about following this year's state budget because they can all see that we are doing what we can to bring this goal a little closer, a little more obtainable, right at a time when many are just starting to believe that it was only a pipedream. Collectively, these amazing measures will have a tangible impact on the lives of many South Australians who aspire to purchase their first home. Easing the financial pressures associated with the up-front costs of getting into the market will help enable that dream to become a reality.

While the federal Albanese Labor government is doing what it can to advance the much-needed Housing Australia Future Fund, which this week has finally made its way back through the federal parliament, we as a state government are also doing what we can to get more people into homes because we believe that there is no time to waste. All South Australians should have a place to call home, and I am pleased to hear that, following the national cabinet, the commonwealth government will deliver performance-based funding to rapidly boost housing supply across the country.

To ring off a few of the ways that we are making moves in housing, we have initiated one of the largest ever land releases this state has seen, which will open opportunity for the construction of 25,000 additional homes and pave the way for over 50,000 South Australians to achieve the dream of home ownership. In fact, consultation has just finished in my local community regarding this very matter about which I am keenly engaging with my constituents to help ensure that we get the best outcomes possible.

I am also pleased that we are embarking on building 700 additional affordable homes in Prospect, Bowden and Playford, as well as pushing ahead with the construction of 130 social and affordable apartments at the Franklin Street bus station site in the city. Together, these initiatives combine to push forward our commitment to helping address the housing crisis.

This bill also seeks to amend the Land Tax Act by introducing a 50 per cent land tax discount for eligible new build-to-rent properties, discounting the land value of the parcel of land being used to build eligible build-to-rent properties by 50 per cent until the 2039-40 land tax year for projects where construction has commenced from 1 July this year, able to apply for relief. Eligibility will extend to build-to-rent properties that include a minimum of at least three years being offered to tenants, which will support more secure tenure arrangements for tenants and is intended to support additional investment in residential rental housing, increasing the supply of new affordable housing in build-to-rent properties.

Safe to say, we have taken a fair approach when it comes to land tax, both in this term of government and during our time in opposition. We have opposed regressive changes in the past that we believed were unfair: changes that hurt local jobs, hurt small business and drove up rents. Our Premier has made it clear that we need to make sure we have a state economy that creates and supports local jobs. We want to do things that help small businesses in our state because we know that supports jobs.

Speaking about jobs, we are going to need workers who can build these homes and, whilst we have a housing crisis on one side, we also need to ensure we have skilled workers to deliver on these big projects that our state is being called to undertake. In line with this understanding, we have announced that high-demand industries which include trades critical to filling our housing commitments—such as bricklaying, concreting, electrical and other essential trades—will share in a $2.45 million investment through TAFE SA to develop new courses and support more students to study in these areas. We will be delivering almost 100,000 vocational education training qualifications to continue to try to meet the skills demand.

This bill will also amend the Emergency Services Funding Act to allow the Commissioner of State Taxation to collect the emergency services levy from either a landowner or a private shack lease. Currently, lessees of private shack sites are not provided for as an owner from which the ESL can be collected. Following owners of some privately leased shack site groups requesting RevenueSA send ESL notices to the lessees, these changes will allow for owners of privately leased shacks to request the Commissioner of State Taxation to issue individual ESL bills direct to the lessee of the shack site.

The ESL is important, as it directly funds the community emergency levy fund, which is there for exclusive use by our emergency services personnel to help fund the operations of our MFS, CFS and SES. This includes operational costs and the purchase of new assets such as buildings, fire appliances, tankers and other vehicles, like the brand-new truck at the Tea Tree Gully SES I was happy to suss out with the member for Wright and the member for Newland earlier this year. It also includes appliances like new ICT equipment, which we are proud to have secured for the Salisbury SES last year.

The ESL helps to ensure support is provided to all South Australians in myriad ways. This update will help ensure it is generated in a fair and equitable manner. With that, I commend the bill to the house.

Ms HOOD (Adelaide) (12:27): I, too, rise in support of the Statutes Amendment (Budget Measures) Bill. The 2023-24 budget is a budget that was focused on the government's priorities of a sustainable and efficient health system, more affordable housing, assistance towards cost-of-living pressures and providing better public services for South Australians. This bill contains amendments to relevant legislation to implement measures announced in the budget and other administrative amendments, including:

introducing a 50 per cent land tax discount for eligible new build-to-rent residential construction projects. The discount will reduce the land value for land tax purposes by 50 per cent to the 2039-40 land tax year for eligible projects;

providing stamp duty relief for eligible first-home buyers on the purchase of new homes valued at up to $650,000 and a corresponding increase to the First Home Owner Grant property value cap; and

various administrative amendments relating to the emergency services levy.

I wish to speak on the amendments relating to the Stamp Duties Act and the First Home and Housing Construction Grants Act, which I believe are important amendments in allowing more South Australians, particularly young South Australians, to realise their dream of home ownership. The bill amends the Stamp Duties Act to provide stamp duty relief for eligible first-home buyers who enter into a contract to purchase a new home, or vacant land to build a new home, on or after 15 June 2023.

No stamp duty will be payable on the purchase of an eligible new home valued at up to $650,000, with relief progressively phasing out for properties valued at up to $700,000. For the purchase of vacant land on which a new home will be built, no stamp duty will be payable for vacant land valued up to $400,000, with relief phasing out for land valued up to $450,000. To be eligible for relief, the new home must be occupied as the principal place of residence, similar to existing requirements for the First Home Owner Grant under the First Home and Housing Construction Grants Act 2000. Stamp duty relief of up to $29,580 will be available for eligible applicants under this really important measure.

The bill also amends the First Home and Housing Construction Grants Act 2000 to increase the property value cap for eligibility for the $15,000 First Home Owner Grant from $575,000 to $650,000. When combined with the new stamp duty relief, an eligible first-home buyer could now receive total relief of up to $44,580 on the purchase of a new home valued at up to $650,000.

I credit being able to purchase my very first home to a similar policy of the former Weatherill Labor government. In 2015, I was able to access the off-the-plan apartment stamp duty concession, which, combined with the First Home Owner Grant, gave me the ability to purchase a two-bedroom apartment in the Ergo Apartments development in the CBD in Sturt Street. It was a game changer for me and my former partner, as we never thought we would be able to own our very own home, let alone be able to purchase one in our late 20s and early 30s. Fast-forward eight years, and the Malinauskas government is going even further in ensuring young people can achieve this dream, with the policy expanding for the first time to deliver stamp duty concessions to new homes or builds across the state.

We are also undertaking a massive land release of 25,000 blocks in Adelaide's northern and southern suburbs. For first-home buyers looking to build their first home, this residential land release will give them an amazing opportunity to purchase a block and use the policies around abolishing stamp duty, along with the First Home Owner Grant, to build their very first home, to have a backyard, to have open green space and perhaps to start their own family, in which case I highly recommend getting a trampoline early so that you can get your money's worth.

It is important to note that these concessions and grants do not come without hard work on the part of the applicant. I am proud of the hard work my former partner and I did in saving every single dollar of our deposit ourselves and then, backed by a Labor government, we were able to realise our dream of owning our own home. I remember the commitment and discipline it took to save for a house deposit, and I commend those currently doing the hard yards.

But a deposit is only half the puzzle. What prospective first-home buyers also need is options. On the weekend, I was proud to join the Premier and the planning minister at the site of the development Prospect Corner, which will deliver 180 new homes near my electorate in the community of Prospect. Importantly, 55 per cent of those homes will be affordable—townhouses for affordable purchase or apartments for affordable rent.

Importantly, that development will also include open green space and three reserves, and that is based on feedback from local residents and also from local primary school students. It will include barbecue areas, green space and a nature play area for children. This is something I am incredibly passionate about and will complement the pocket parks that I fought hard to deliver in my community at Main North Road, opposite Scotty's Corner; at the beginning of Churchill Road; and an additional two pocket parks just across the railway in the Premier's electorate of Croydon.

As well as Prospect Corner, in my community we are also delivering a development at the old Franklin Street bus depot. That will be an almost 400-apartment community, many of which will be affordable homes for rent or purchase. These options are critical for prospective first-home buyers because, as I was saying earlier, it is not just the deposit you need; it is the option to go out and look at what home would best suit you and then put in your best offer.

I also acknowledge those for whom even the goal of saving for a house deposit really is just not feasible. That is why we are investing heavily in our public housing system and improving the rights of and affordability for renters. We are undertaking a massive investment in public housing, and it is really pleasing to see the developments at the federal government level today regarding investment in housing and getting the support of the parliament to pass that housing bill.

It is a generational investment. It is an extra 1,140 public homes we are undertaking as a state government. We are doing this by stopping the sale of 580 homes that would have occurred under the former Liberal government. We are building an extra 564 new public homes, and I understand that this is one of the most significant increases in public housing that we have seen in the last decades.

We are also making significant inroads in increasing the rights of renters by providing rent assistance to more South Australians, making residential tenancy bonds more affordable and banning rent bidding. At the last sitting of parliament I was very proud to join our minister, Andrea Michaels, and one of my local constituents, Ariba, in announcing that a ban on rent bidding would now come into effect, and people found to be undertaking rent bidding would be facing fines of up to $20,000.

I first met Ariba after she had moved to South Australia. She moved here from Melbourne and, whilst trying to find a rental property, kept experiencing rent bidding. She would rock up to a rental inspection and find herself at a silent auction instead, where you did not know the weekly cost of renting that particular home. It is not just a waste of time; it is incredibly disheartening when you are trying to find a home for your family but you are really completely blind as to how much that house is going to cost you.

I am really proud to be part of the Malinauskas Labor government whose 2023-24 budget is making significant strides in ensuring more South Australians have a place to call home. I commend this bill to the house.

Ms THOMPSON (Davenport) (12:36): I rise, too, to speak on the Statutes Amendment (Budget Measures) Bill 2023. This bill seeks to amend four pieces of legislation to deliver on commitments made in the Malinauskas government's 2023-24 state budget. Legislation due for amendment includes the Emergency Services Funding Act 1998, First Home and Housing Construction Grants Act 2000, Land Tax Act 1936 and the Stamp Duties Act 1923. The reason for a change is simple: we are investing in the future of our state. We are creating opportunities for industry and we are presenting young families the opportunity to break into the property market and purchase their first home. Why? Because we want roofs over heads.

That concept is a cornerstone of our state budget which delivers record investment in public housing, seeks to strengthen protections for people living in rental properties and has already provided young families with much-needed stamp duty relief. Every family deserves a home and every family also deserves access to a healthcare system that works for them. That is why we are delivering on our commitments to open more than 550 new beds, to build a new headquarters for the SA Ambulance Service, to commission a State Health Control Centre and to realise the potential for a bigger and better Women's and Children's Hospital.

Specific to my electorate of Davenport is the $400 million upgrade and expansion of the Flinders Medical Centre. This critical health infrastructure project jointly funded by the Malinauskas and Albanese governments drives at the heart of all we committed to at the 2022 state election. Yes, this program will deliver more than 160 beds across Flinders Medical Centre and the nearby Repat Hospital; yes, there will be an increase in specialised capability through an expansion of the Margaret Tobin Centre and upgraded imaging and engineering services; and, yes, patients can expect serious privacy and infection control improvements through the creation of new private rooms—but this investment is about so much more.

This investment—and the same can be said across the whole of South Australia's health network—is as much about the people who work at the Flinders Medical Centre as it is about the patients. We want to give our health professionals, doctors, nurses, allied health workers, you name it, the tools and the space they need to do their jobs properly. We want them to work in facilities that are becoming of their craft, we want them to work in comfort and we want them to leave work at the end of their shift and look forward to coming back the next day.

It takes a special person to work in a health setting, and that person deserves to be treated as such. Looking back at our work in the housing space, among the most important measures included in the 2023-24 state budget is stamp duty relief for eligible first-home buyers. This government has recognised the need for serious tax reform to help families and young people enter South Australia's booming property market and purchase their first home.

First-time homebuyers making the decision to build are now receiving stamp duty relief on the purchase and construction of residential properties valued at up to $700,000. For those looking to purchase vacant land, relief is available on blocks valued at up to $450,000. This is a game changer not just for people living in my electorate but for people looking to purchase right across the state. Governments, be they federal, state or local, cannot afford to sit on their hands any longer. The demand is there, and we are committed to enacting policies to see that demand met.

We are working with all levels of government to ensure no stone, no matter where it might be, is left unturned. This is about creating opportunity for the person and opportunity for business, and both have taken the chance immediately; in fact, the HIA New Home Sales Report saw new home sales in SA jump over 35 per cent in July alone. Every other surveyed state across our country experienced decline during this same period, but South Australia has bucked the trend, defied the downturn and will be better for it.

Support for first-home buyers forms part of a $474.7 million package that will assist in the delivery of 3,600 new homes over five years. This multifaceted package also includes South Australia's largest ever land release and looks to strengthen the rights of people living in rental properties, the latter supported by the state government's review of the Residential Tenancies Act. Rental property tenants have a right to feel at home, and the government is progressing legislation to see that right appropriately recognised.

Unless exceptional circumstances present, families should not have to choose between their pet and a place to live. Families should not have to decide whether they put dinner on the table or scrounge their pennies to meet excessive and fast-increasing rental bonds. I am pleased for the most part that we have landlords right across South Australia who already recognise this, who take their role as housing providers seriously, who want to strike a reasonable balance between securing a return on their investment and assisting in increasing our state's housing supply.

Good people are at the heart of each of these policies, and I am thankful that equally good people are prepared to help us deliver on this government's housing agenda and drive this state forward. Pleasingly, in the Albanese federal government, we have a partner that is as ambitious as we are. In Canberra, we now have a federal government that is capable of meeting this moment, making the tough decisions and pulling every lever at its disposal to see that each Australian and South Australian has the quality of life that they deserve.

Since my election to this place, there have been few moments that rivalled the Sunday sitting of state parliament on North Terrace as South Australia's First Nations Voice was written into law. We have an opportunity now to extend that recognition to Indigenous people living in each and every corner of our nation. We have an opportunity to consult with an elected body of Indigenous people on these same matters—health, housing, education—and we have an opportunity to see that this body is enshrined in our constitution, that it can provide advice to parliament on matters important to their communities whenever that advice is required.

The time is now, and my family and I look forward to voting yes on Saturday 14 October. I also look forward to seeing South Australians benefit as we deliver on the commitments made in the Malinauskas government's 2023-24 state budget. I commend this bill to the house.

S.E. ANDREWS (Gibson) (12:43): I rise to speak on the Statutes Amendment (Budget Measures) Bill 2023. This Malinauskas Labor government is tackling the housing crisis on multiple fronts. We are doing this through releasing land, constructing new public housing properties, rental reforms and through the measures in this bill to make it easier for South Australians to enter the housing market. We have wasted no time in supporting those who are ready to make the transition from renting to owning their own property.

This bill implements the government's changes to stamp duty for first-home buyers. The 2023-24 state budget abolishes stamp duty for first-home buyers who purchase a new home valued at up to $650,000 or vacant land valued at up to $400,000 to build a new home. Most first-home buyers should be able to find a property that meets their needs within this threshold, even with the price rises that we have seen in recent times.

The abolition of stamp duty for singles, couples and families will see a saving of up to almost $30,000 for new homebuyers, which takes the pressure off saving that additional amount for your home deposit. Whilst this is good news for our state, it is only the beginning. This bill also amends the First Home and Housing Construction Grants Act 2000 to extend the First Home Owner Grant and increases its property value cap from $575,000 to $650,000. The First Home Owner Grant is available to eligible first-home buyers who build or buy a new home.

Increasing the property value cap by $75,000 reflects the significant increase in land and building costs that I mentioned earlier and more closely aligns the grant with Adelaide's median house price of $675,000. The grant is another $15,000 that buyers do not have to pay, so we are now at a total saving of $44,580 which, compared with the annual median earnings in South Australia of $58,500, is a significant saving for first-home buyers.

It is estimated the measures will benefit 3,800 first-home buyers a year, and by abolishing stamp duty for new builds only and not increasing demand for existing homes this government is encouraging the supply of new housing with the intention of also taking the pressure off our tight rental market. Encouraging new house builds is expected to provide important support to the building industry, which has started to slow as the COVID stimulus spike subsides and ever-high interest rates slow demand.

We have seen devastation and heartbreak across the nation as construction companies have collapsed. We want a strong construction industry in South Australia where tradespeople can work and young families can move into new homes. We have received good news in South Australia, as we bucked the national trend for new home sales, recording a 35½ per cent increase in July while other states fell by between 0.6 and 11.6 per cent.

The good news continues in this bill, with the Labor government delivering a low deposit home loan scheme for first-home buyers building a new home. The new first-home buyer construction option will allow first-home buyers to borrow to construct their first home with just a 2 per cent deposit, improving on our initial election commitment of 3 per cent—overdelivering because we know it is tough in our community. Two per cent could be as low as $10,000 on a $500,000 loan, compared with the usual 20 per cent or $100,000, so that is another saving of $90,000 for a total up-front saving of $134,580.

The lending criteria will align with the existing Graduate Loan requirements, with the commencement date of 1 July 2024. Unlike some commercial lenders, HomeStart does not require borrowers to take out Lenders Mortgage Insurance, another saving that can sometimes add up to $10,000 to the cost of purchasing a home.

These new homes that we are building will be right across the metropolitan area. In the north, there will be 10,000 homes at Dry Creek, 10,000 at Concordia and 500 at Golden Grove. However, those lucky enough to live in the best part of Adelaide, in the south, between the sea and the Hills, will see 2,000 homes at Onkaparinga Heights, 1,700 at Sellicks Beach, 800 at Aldinga and 600 at Noarlunga Downs. This will be in addition to the large-scale construction currently underway at Gawler, Mount Barker, Seaford Heights, Two Wells, and in the City of Playford, plus the infill development across metropolitan Adelaide.

This bill provides for a reduction in taxable value for certain build-to-rent properties by 50 per cent: the building must be situated on the land, construction of the building is commenced on or after 1 July 2023, the commissioner is satisfied the building is being used for a build-to-rent property, and the owner applies for the reduction.

Additionally, the building, and the use of the building as a build-to-rent property, must comply with all requirements applicable under the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016, and, importantly, each tenant of the build-to-rent dwellings or units in the property is offered on a genuine basis a lease with a term of not less than three years.

In addition to this, we are delivering the first substantial increase in public housing in a generation, building an additional 564 public homes and stopping the sale of 580 others. There are new homes being constructed in Gibson across Brighton, Marion and Seacombe Gardens and we are delivering 700 additional affordable homes under the National Housing Accord. We are developing 111-129 Franklin Street in the city to deliver more than 130 social and affordable apartments; delivering targeted reforms to rental laws, including a ban on rent bidding; and delivering new key worker housing through a new Office for Regional Housing in Renewal SA.

Additionally, we are extending the Aspire homelessness program, which provides intensive case management for people who have experienced recurrent homelessness or are at risk of returning to homelessness. This is in addition to our broader support for homelessness provided by this Labor government.

I would also like to briefly mention a recent initiative held at the SA Aquatic Centre, where for one night last month they provided warm beds, free haircuts, health support, clothing and food for our local homeless community. It might have been a one-off event, but it certainly helped people in our community experiencing homelessness to connect with services on an ongoing basis.

Of course, there is the wonderful work at St Jude's Church—instigated by Paul, who is currently in the running for a Westfield Star award—where they provide a community meal every Friday lunch to anyone in our community who would like a free meal. It is three courses and an impressive serving and, importantly, it is also an opportunity to connect and chat with people. It is not about the photos and it is not about the socials; it is about being in our community and serving those who need it most. I commend the bill to the house.

The Hon. N.D. CHAMPION (Taylor—Minister for Trade and Investment, Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Minister for Planning) (12:51): It is a great pleasure to speak on this bill, which is yet another piece of legislation—another action—that is designed to provide supply into a housing market that everybody knows is in absolutely dire shape. It is not an exaggeration to say there is a housing emergency across the country. This has been building for a long time. The combination of previous governments turbocharging demand while restricting supply has led us to this moment.

This government has been very focused on making sure we get the right solution to this problem, which is that we want to make sure there is supply into the market, and that is supply of public housing, supply of affordable rental, supply of affordable sale and supply of market sale, which is across a range of categories so as to actually be able to cater for people at their different points of life and obviously at different income levels. This is a government that really does care about housing.

This bill amends multiple acts of parliament and assists first-home buyers who are purchasing or building homes under a threshold and saves them tens of thousands of dollars in government taxes in a really important initiative by the Treasurer—by the government—to make sure that the next generation has a stake in society. We do not want, and the Labor Party opposes, the idea that one generation should be stuck permanently in rental for the rest of their lives. We want them to have their share of the great Australian dream, which is to buy a home, have a family, live their lives, get a job and contribute to society. We know that home ownership is absolutely critical to people contributing to their community.

Eligible first-home buyers who purchase a new home or vacant land to build a new home from 15 June this year get that tax saving. Homes valued up to $650,000 will not require stamp duty to be paid and stamp duty relief is phased out for properties valued at up to $700,000. As I said before, it is a really important initiative for first-home buyers. For vacant land priced up to $400,000 where a new home is to be built, no stamp duty will be required to be paid, and stamp duty will be phased out for land value up to $450,000. Importantly, the new home must be the principal place of residence. We want to make sure that the people who avail themselves of these tax benefits are eligible, and I think that is something that the community would like to see.

That helps the individual new homebuyer. We think that that is a really important thing to do, and it builds in really important supply into the market. If you look at what the government has done with its land release, it is the biggest land release in South Australia's history. There are 10,000 new homes at Concordia, 10,000 at Dry Creek, 2,000 at Hackham and 1,200 or so at Sellicks. We have done more than that: we have initiated code amendments in Goolwa, Murray Bridge, Golden Grove, Kidman Park and a whole range of other areas to push supply into the market.

We understand that land supply is critical to the availability of housing going forward. We know that the previous government did not do anything like that in this space. It released just 185 hectares in four years while watching the federal Liberal Party in government under Mr Morrison pour kero on a raging fire, pour cash in on the demand side, and we see the consequences in the housing market today and indeed every day. We want to push supply. This goes hand in hand with supply. It sensibly, I think, gives first-home buyers a tax break.

We are also amending the legislation to make sure that there is a 50 per cent land tax discount for eligible new build-to-rent properties. That has the effect of reducing the value of the land by 50 per cent until the 2039-40 land tax year. To be eligible for the discount, construction of build-to-rent projects must commence from 1 July this year. That is of course targeting a really critical segment. Build-to-rent has not been present in the South Australian marketplace.

Institutional investment in the rental market going forward is a particularly useful supply-side mechanism to help relieve pressure in the rental market. Build-to-rent will be a continuum. It will be in some segments for affordable housing, but it will also be housing for young professionals. It will be housing for people who are coming here to work.

Earlier this year, I had the great pleasure to announce that the US firm Sentinel will be building a build-to-rent development in the heart of Bowden. It is a $100 million building. In this case, they will benefit from the tax break that has been put in place here. This will be a first. It will be 12 storeys high with 250 rental accommodation options, targeting a green, carbon neutral certification with a minimum five-star green rating. It will have long-term leases. Most importantly, it will have amenities like a fitness centre, swimming pool, rooftop gardens, barbecues, bike storage, EV charging stations and pet washing facilities.

As I said before, it is really important that we get a continuum of rental supply. It is important to provide affordable rental projects. On Sunday, I was in Prospect announcing 72 rentals, which will be run through a community housing provider, priced at 75 per cent of market rate. The advice I received is that it would save people around $118 a week, which is over $6,000 a year. That is the sort of affordable rental project that will help to depress prices at the bottom end. What will help depress prices overall is a continuing rental supply in every segment of the market. I seek leave to continue my remarks.

Leave granted; debate adjourned.

Sitting suspended from 12:59 to 14:00.

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