Kezia Purick MLA

Shadow Minister for;
Major Projects, Trade & Economic Development
Planning and Lands
Housing
Statehood
Women’s Policy

Release date: 10 March 2010

HOUSING FINANCE COMMITMENTS FALL - AGAIN

The Treasurer’s release on ABS housing finance figures in the Territory confirms she can never be accused of letting the facts get in the way of spin.

“On the day the ABS figures show the lowest monthly number of first home owners in the Territory for 8 years the Treasurer claims we have a strong housing market,” says Kezia Purick, Deputy Opposition Leader.

“The Territory saw just 46 first home owners secure finance in January, that’s down from 190 in July 2005.

“Those same figures also show there were just 340 owner occupied housing finance commitments across the Territory in January - the lowest January figure since 2004.

“What today’s figures actually show is that there has been almost no improvement in housing finance numbers from the depths of the global financial crisis.

“The trend of housing finance commitments has been down since its peak in September 2005, when more than 800 housing finance commitments were made.

“Rather than being strong as the Treasurer suggests, today’s ABS figures confirm the Territory will remain in the grip of a housing crisis for the foreseeable future.

“Having created a housing market where buying an established home or building a new home is beyond the reach of working people, the Labor Treasurer has the gall to claim the housing market is strong.

“Today’s dismal figures follow earlier ABS figures showing there were just 31 new dwellings approved for Darwin in January.

“The tragedy of the housing crisis is that it was years in the making and will take years to fix.

“In the meantime the damage to young families hunting for a home to rent or buy may never be repaired.

“People are being forced out of the Territory by the exorbitant cost of housing and many will never return.”


Further comment: Kezia Purick 0407 035 976