First home owners to be election focus

A BILL designed to give regional first home owners a leg up in the property market will be a key focus for Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto should Katter’s Australian party be in a commanding position at the next State Election.

Mr Dametto’s First Home Owner Grant (Rural and Regional Areas) Amendment Bill 2019 would reinstate the grant for existing homes but specifically target rural and regional areas.

“We know how tough it is if you live in rural or regional Queensland to break into the housing market and this Bill makes that step a little easier for young families,” he said.

“By offering first home owners the option of using the $15,000 First Home Owners’ Grant to purchase or do renovations to an existing, detached home under $300,000 in rural and regional Queensland, you are also boosting local economies, jobs and preventing a population drift away from those areas.”

Mr Dametto said there was “already a substantial oversupply of established homes which could become more affordable to first home owners with the help of the grant”.

“Those I’ve spoken to in the real estate industry are very much behind this policy, as is Townsville Enterprise,” he said.

“We all know the North has done it tough in recent years with an oversupply of existing homes on the market in small towns. This Bill offers a solution to that problem and we believe Queenslanders living in rural and regional areas would be right on board.”

Mr Dametto said the Bill would be one of several key “non-negotiable” policies in any potential future discussions with major parties to form the next government, should the KAP be in a commanding position after next year’s election.

“Because the Bill will likely require an increase of an appropriation from the consolidated revenue fund, the path to seeing it actually debated in this term of parliament would be extremely difficult,” he said.

“That is why I’ve decided it would be best to wait until after the next election when there is a good chance the KAP will be in a commanding position to decide which major party forms the next government.

“The dream of home ownership should be attainable for all Queenslanders, no matter where you live. Katter’s Australian Party backs them all the way.”