Tuesday, 29 October 2024

Ministers statements: housing

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:07): Victorians know that our government is absolutely determined to support the building of more homes for more young people for their families. Whether you want to rent, whether you want to buy, whether you are looking for a new place to live, we know that the only way to work through the housing crisis is to build our way through, to build our way out, and that is exactly why the announcements that we have been making are focusing on building – not blocking, building. We are giving young people, families and downsizers the opportunity to live near train stations – we know how much those opposite love people living near train stations – exactly where they should live, close to jobs and services. That is why we are delivering 50 new activity centres to support 300,000 more homes. We are helping families to unlock value in backyards and build in more backyards, creating the grand designs of tomorrow.

Speaker, can I point you to an example of where what we have announced is having such an impact; they are doing their job before it is even law. There is a development in Docklands, a thousand homes. The Minister for Planning had approved this project. Before last Monday this project had not got off the ground; construction could only start once pre-sales had reached a required level. This changed overnight, according to my friend Ahmed Fahour. Immediately following our announcements last Monday to reduce off-the-plan stamp duty, there was a rush of interest, and I am pleased to inform the house today that this project is now ready to start construction. There is an air of confidence in Victoria, and I look forward to visiting this site very soon to support that confidence in Victoria, to support Victorians to get into more homes.