MP’S call to boost home grants

HINCHINBROOK MP Nick Dametto is calling on the state government to include amendments to the First Home Owners’ Grant in the 2022-2023 budget as a regional Queensland-specific Covid-19 recovery initiative.

Mr Dametto said Covid-19 had forced financial hardship on many Queenslanders, causing challenges to save house deposits for new homes.

“The proposed amendments will allow prospective qualifying first-home owners to access the current $15,000 First Home Owners’ Grant to purchase an existing detached home or be eligible for improvements and renovations to a property under $300,000 in rural and regional Queensland,” he said.

“The proposal needs to be executed solely in regional and rural Queensland to give these regions the opportunity to grow and prosper during the recovery phase of Covid-19.”

The Katter’s Australian Party politician said he had written to Treasurer Cameron Dick requesting an urgent meeting to discuss his proposal “and raise concerns in reference to the housing crisis that regional Queensland is experiencing”.

“I have also written to the Local Government Association of Queensland and Western Queensland Alliance of Councils seeking their support.”

Hinchinbrook Chamber of Commerce president Rachael Coco welcomed the news.

“The First Home Owners’ Grant is a great scheme but regional Queensland often misses out because a ‘one size fits all’ approach doesn’t account for our unique situation and circumstances,” she said.

“We need the Queensland government to recognise that it’s a solid policy with a lot of potential to create jobs, stimulate the economy and combat regional migration.”

She said existing Hinchinbrook homes remained affordable and expanding the grant would “entice young families who are entering the real estate market to strongly consider what the Hinchinbrook region has to offer”.