Budget 2009-10 Housing and Status of Women Statement

*Check against delivery*

Hello, I’m Tanya Plibersek, Minister for Housing and Minister for the Status of Women.

This years budget is focused on Nation Building for Recovery. The budget supports jobs today by building the infrastructure and the housing Australia needs for tomorrow.

The budget extends the highly successful First Home Owners Boost until 31 December. The Boost will stay at current rates for the next three months and then step down.

Over the next four years the Australian Government will spend a record $15.3 billion on housing programs.

We will complete our program to build 20,000 new social housing dwellings and repair 47,000 existing homes.

Funding has been provided for the States and Territories to reduce homelessness, help private renters, public and community housing and reduce overcrowding in remote Indigenous communities.

Key commitments from last years budget will continue. Expenditure under the National Rental Affordability Scheme will increase as we move toward our target of 50,000 new affordable rental homes.

Funding will be available for future rounds of the Housing Affordability Fund to lower the cost of new homes and measures to make Australian homes more energy and water efficient.

This year’s budget is also a historic budget for women.

The introduction of a government funded paid parental leave. It will allow mothers to spend precious time with their newborn babies and remain connected to the labour market

Increased payments and significant structural reforms to the pension system will be of particular benefit to women, because more women than men in Australia are reliant on the age pension and carer payment.

The Women’s Budget Statement includes information on many of the initiatives of interest to women.

More information is available at the Budget website (www.budget.gov.au) or on the FAHCSIA website.

Goodbye and thanks for watching.