The ACT’s historical public housing debt continues to burn a hole in the ACT Government’s pocket, but Greens MLA for Brindabella, Johnathan Davis, is hopeful the new Labor Federal Government might finally wipe the slate clean.
Mr Davis has this week moved a motion in the ACT Legislative Assembly, renewing the call to waive the debt and seeking a commitment from the ACT Government to further invest in public housing.
He requested the issue again be raised with the Federal Labor Government to “ensure the matter is dealt with as expeditiously as possible”.
“The ACT Government is paying back a historic housing debt of $98.3 million to the Federal Government. Over the next three years alone, the ACT is due to pay back $27.7 million just to service these debts,” Mr Davis said.
“In response to the national housing affordability crisis, the last Federal Government forgave debts held by both the Tasmanian and South Australian governments.
“The ACT Greens call on the new Federal Government to waive the ACT’s debt. If the debt is waived, I call on the ACT Government to reinvest the full amount back into public housing.”
Mr Davis said in the ACT Legislative Assembly on Wednesday 1 June that Chief Minister Andrew Barr has already raised the debt waiver with the newly elected Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Finance Minister, ACT Senator Katy Gallagher, who is also a former ACT Chief Minister.
While it is still unknown whether Mr Barr’s approach was successful, Mr Davis is “delighted” that Senator Katy Gallagher and likely incoming Senator David Pocock have both stated they are in favour of waiving the debt.
He also acknowledged in the Assembly that Mr Barr and the ACT Government have publicly promised that savings from a debt waiver would be reinvested into social and community housing.
“The ACT Greens believe in a home for all. This was central to the ACT Greens 2020 ACT election campaign platform. When negotiating our Parliamentary and Governing Agreement with ACT Labor, we worked hard to secure a range of commitments related to housing, including a commitment to deliver an additional 400 public housing dwellings by 2025,” Mr Davis said.
“I’m delighted to hear that both Senator Katy Gallagher and likely incoming Senator David Pocock have called for this debt to be waived as well. It’s refreshing to see two strong advocates for Canberra in the Australian Senate.
“The ACT Greens welcome the change of Federal Government. The change presents an opportunity to secure a better deal for Canberrans. That must start with helping the ACT Government buy and build more homes for people who desperately need them,” he said.
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