Ext homebuyers grant will not ease housing stress, Opp
14 Jan 2009 5:17 PM
The federal opposition says the increased first homebuyers grant will do nothing to ease the massive undersupply of housing.
The federal government doubled the grant in October last year . helping contribute to a 10 per cent jump in the number of new homes bought by first homebuyers in November.
Mortgage lenders say the increased grant .. due to expire on June 30 .. should be extended by six months to help to stabilise the market during the economic downturn.
But the opposition housing spokesman SCOTT MORRISON says this would take the federal budget further into deficit and do nothing to ease the estimated 200 thousand shortfall in housing.
