Greening-up first home owners grants to boost jobs and power Australia's economic future

 
The Australian Greens today called for an environmental focus on housing in the Prime Minister's $10.4 billion package, ensuring more jobs and local economic stimulus.
 
"This is the perfect opportunity for the Rudd Government to seize the moment and set Australia's housing sector on the path towards a sustainable, renewable future," said Australian Greens Senator Scott Ludlam.
 
"As it is currently constructed, the increase in the first home owners grant is poor policy that will drive up house prices and do little to promote overall housing affordability."
 
The Greens, whilst support the Government's economic stimulus package, are proposing:
 

• to ensure that any first home owners grants available for new houses are only for houses built with a high energy efficiency rating (eg solar hot water, insulation);
• a nationwide energy efficiency retrofit scheme to ease energy bills and boost employment;
• to prioritise genuine housing affordability measures including concessions for non-profit community housing organisations to provide affordable rental accommodation.

 
The one dimensional focus on the first homeowners grant has been criticised as inflationary and poorly targeted.
 
"Putting more money up front, encouraging people to buy energy-inefficient homes out onto the urban fringes far from services, public transport and employment centres is a bad social economical and environmental outcome," said Senator Ludlam.
 
"The Greens scheme would produce better social outcomes; be a far greater boost to jobs; and help power Australia's green economic future," he concluded.

For more information or media enquiries please call Tim Norton on 0418
401 180
senator.ludlam@aph.gov.au  |  www.scottludlam.org.au  | www.greensmps.org.au