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Other Parliamentary Speeches

This page is dedicated to Peter's speeches during parliament that do not fall under Questions or Questions without notice. They range from debating legislation, reporting on events or issues in his seat of Southport and his Ministerial Statements.

Housing Legislation Amendment Bill
Posted by Administrator (admin) on Oct 04 2005
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Mr LAWLOR (Southport-ALP) (5.57 pm):

I will be brief in my support of the Housing Legislation Amendment Bill 2005. It amends the Housing Act 2003 and the Housing Freeholding of Land Act 1957, which allows the speedy divestment of residential perpetual town leases administered by the Department of Housing. Residential perpetual town leases were issued between 1924 and 1985 in order to reduce the cost of home ownership for working families. Over 7,000 families benefited from this home ownership scheme over this time.

There was always an ability to convert the leases to freehold title and, over time, all but 262 were converted. Fewer than 80 of those remaining leases are held by the original lessees or their descendants. All of the original home loan agreements have been finalised and, therefore, the remaining leases continue in perpetuity on a land rental only basis. Actually, only one of these types of leases in the Southport electorate will benefit from this legislation. However, there used to be quite a number of these residential perpetual town leases on the Gold Coast, particularly in the area of Main Beach. Ironically, this system was brought in to enable working families to own a home, and some of those converted leases in Main Beach would now be worth in excess of a million dollars.

The administrative costs of running the system for 262 leases cannot be justified, and these amendments will assist the 262 lessees achieve outright home ownership. There will be incentives provided for remaining lessees to convert their land to freehold. There will also be disincentives, as has already been mentioned by numerous other speakers, to remain a lessee in the long term. Effectively, these amendments give effect to the original intent of the scheme, and that is to make home ownership easier for working people. From 1 July 2009, any remaining leases will automatically convert to freehold upon a change of ownership. That date will give lessees plenty of time to consider their options.

Lessees have been notified that the perpetual town lease system was under review, and this bill will give effect to the original intent of the scheme, as I have mentioned. Lessees are able to contact the department if they have any concerns with the proposed legislation. Voluntary freeholding before the prescribed date will be at a reduced purchase price-that is, based on a percentage of UCV and not on the market price, as is presently the case. This bill effectively winds up a scheme which has outlived its original purpose but which has been of critical importance in assisting working Queenslanders to achieve their dream of home ownership. I commend the bill to the House.

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