Comments on: Boosting First Home Owners Grant a bad idea

By: Public housing boost a major plus - Andrew Bartlett

Public housing boost a major plus - Andrew Bartlett — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:19:06 +0000

...] by the previous federal government, and the current government’s previous actions in throwing extra money at the inefficient and regressive First Home Owners Grant in their first stimulus package, I have to balance the ledger given yesterday’s announcement. [...

By: What’s happening with housing? - Andrew Bartlett

What’s happening with housing? - Andrew Bartlett — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 23:40:30 +0000

...] Even though the budget situation of governments has deteriorated significantly, there is still plenty of talk of spending large amounts to stimulate the economy and maintain employment. Significant chunks of that could be spent on boosting social housing stock, including helping to overcome the serious housing shortage in many Indigenous communities. This would deliver on both the economic and social goals in a far more direct, effective and fair way than the ridiculous spending of another lazy billion dollars on boosting the first home owners grant. [...

By: dumbunny

dumbunny — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 10:38:51 +0000

What really worries me is just how terrified our government appears to be – A massive interest rate drop and more coming – Please borrow, please buy houses (even though the prices already unaffordable), please prop up the building industry and all the allied businesses and jobs. Unprecedented pre Christmas handouts to the people most likely to spend them – Please prop up our retailers and all the jobs that hang off them. Wiser heads than mine have obviously advised our government to be very frightened to take a wide range of drastic actions. I just hope our banks have learned from America’s subprime saga and don’t lend to anyone who doesn’t have a REALLY secure job and who can ride out any drop in house prices that might come.

By: Alan

Alan — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 09:29:29 +0000

I agree with Andrew, this will only push prices up and not help people it indended for. When the First Home Buyers grant was first setup it was a good thing that helped many people buy their first home, but to continue now with the evidence that it will push prices up again does not sound like a thought out idea.

By: ltep

ltep — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 09:21:18 +0000

They’re doing it so they look like they’re doing something. In the same light as Grocery Choice or Fuel Watch they are more keen on being able to say they’re doing something than actually doing something… or admitting there’s nothing much they can do.