Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2008-10-16 Daily Xml

Contents

FIRST HOME OWNER GRANT

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (15:15): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Urban Development and Planning, representing the Treasurer, a question regarding the South Australian home buyers grant.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD: As members would be aware, on 5 June the Treasurer announced a $4,000 grant for South Australian first home buyers, in addition to the then $7,000 federal grant. Again, as members would be aware, on Tuesday of this week, 14 October, the Prime Minister announced that the federal grant will be lifted from $7,000 to $14,000 and to $21,000 in cases where the applicant is building a new home. When Family First tried yesterday to gather more information about the impact of the increase, we were advised by RevenueSA:

At this point in time RevenueSA does not have any further details than those reported in the media regarding the changes to the first home owner grant announced earlier today.

My question is simply: does the state government intend to continue honouring its commitment to pay the $4,000 grant in addition to the newly announced federal grant?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business) (15:16): I will refer that question to the Treasurer in another place and bring back a reply.